Food additives explained
What each E-number is, why it's added and what the research says. Risk levels are our summary of the evidence.
E100CurcumincolourNo known riskE101RiboflavincolourNo known riskE102TartrazinecolourModerate concernE104Quinoline yellowcolourModerate concernE110Sunset yellow FCFcolourModerate concernE120CarminecolourLow concernE122AzorubinecolourModerate concernE124Ponceau 4RcolourModerate concernE129Allura red ACcolourModerate concernE133Brilliant blue FCFcolourLow concernE140ChlorophyllscolourNo known riskE150aPlain caramelcolourLow concernE150cAmmonia caramelcolourModerate concernE150dSulphite ammonia caramelcolourModerate concernE160aCarotenescolourNo known riskE160bAnnattocolourLow concernE160cPaprika extractcolourNo known riskE162Beetroot redcolourNo known riskE171Titanium dioxidecolourHigh concernE200Sorbic acidpreservativeLow concernE202Potassium sorbatepreservativeLow concernE210Benzoic acidpreservativeModerate concernE211Sodium benzoatepreservativeModerate concernE220Sulphur dioxidepreservativeModerate concernE223Sodium metabisulphitepreservativeModerate concernE249Potassium nitritepreservativeHigh concernE250Sodium nitritepreservativeHigh concernE251Sodium nitratepreservativeHigh concernE252Potassium nitratepreservativeHigh concernE270Lactic acidacidity regulatorNo known riskE280Propionic acidpreservativeLow concernE282Calcium propionatepreservativeLow concernE290Carbon dioxidecarbonating agentNo known riskE296Malic acidacidity regulatorNo known riskE300Ascorbic acidantioxidantNo known riskE301Sodium ascorbateantioxidantNo known riskE306TocopherolsantioxidantNo known riskE307Alpha-tocopherolantioxidantNo known riskE319TBHQantioxidantModerate concernE320BHAantioxidantHigh concernE321BHTantioxidantModerate concernE322LecithinsemulsifierNo known riskE325Sodium lactateacidity regulatorNo known riskE330Citric acidacidity regulatorNo known riskE331Sodium citratesacidity regulatorNo known riskE332Potassium citratesacidity regulatorNo known riskE333Calcium citratesacidity regulatorNo known riskE334Tartaric acidacidity regulatorNo known riskE338Phosphoric acidacidity regulatorLow concernE339Sodium phosphatesacidity regulatorLow concernE340Potassium phosphatesacidity regulatorLow concernE341Calcium phosphatesacidity regulatorLow concernE401Sodium alginatethickenerNo known riskE406Agargelling agentNo known riskE407CarrageenanthickenerModerate concernE407aProcessed eucheuma seaweedthickenerModerate concernE410Locust bean gumthickenerNo known riskE412Guar gumthickenerNo known riskE414Gum arabicthickenerNo known riskE415Xanthan gumthickenerNo known riskE420SorbitolsweetenerLow concernE421MannitolsweetenerLow concernE422GlycerolhumectantNo known riskE433Polysorbate 80emulsifierModerate concernE440Pectinsgelling agentNo known riskE450Diphosphatesraising agentLow concernE451TriphosphatesstabiliserLow concernE452PolyphosphatesstabiliserLow concernE460CellulosethickenerNo known riskE461Methyl cellulosethickenerNo known riskE464Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulosethickenerNo known riskE466CarboxymethylcellulosethickenerModerate concernE471Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acidsemulsifierModerate concernE472eDATEMemulsifierModerate concernE475Polyglycerol esters of fatty acidsemulsifierLow concernE476Polyglycerol polyricinoleateemulsifierLow concernE481Sodium stearoyl-2-lactylateemulsifierLow concernE500Sodium carbonatesraising agentNo known riskE501Potassium carbonatesacidity regulatorNo known riskE503Ammonium carbonatesraising agentNo known riskE551Silicon dioxideanti-caking agentLow concernE621Monosodium glutamateflavour enhancerLow concernE627Disodium guanylateflavour enhancerLow concernE631Disodium inosinateflavour enhancerLow concernE635Disodium 5'-ribonucleotidesflavour enhancerLow concernE900Dimethylpolysiloxaneanti-foaming agentLow concernE903Carnauba waxglazing agentNo known riskE904Shellacglazing agentNo known riskE920L-cysteineflour treatment agentLow concernE950Acesulfame KsweetenerModerate concernE951AspartamesweetenerModerate concernE952CyclamatessweetenerModerate concernE954SaccharinsweetenerLow concernE955SucralosesweetenerModerate concernE960Steviol glycosidessweetenerLow concernE961NeotamesweetenerModerate concernE965MaltitolsweetenerLow concernE967XylitolsweetenerLow concernE968ErythritolsweetenerModerate concernE1404Oxidised starchthickenerLow concernE1412Distarch phosphatethickenerLow concernE1414Acetylated distarch phosphatethickenerLow concernE1420Acetylated starchthickenerLow concernE1422Acetylated distarch adipatethickenerLow concernE1442Hydroxypropyl distarch phosphatethickenerLow concernE1450Starch sodium octenyl succinatethickenerLow concernE1520Propylene glycolhumectantLow concern