Food additives & E-numbers
What's really behind the E-numbers on your labels. Honest, plain-English risk profiles for 110common additives — what they are, where they hide, and whether they're worth avoiding. 18 are flagged high or severe risk.
E171Severe risk
Titanium dioxideColourE102High risk
TartrazineColour (azo)E104High risk
Quinoline YellowColour (azo)E110High risk
Sunset Yellow FCFColour (azo)E122High risk
Azorubine / CarmoisineColour (azo)E124High risk
Ponceau 4RColour (azo)E129High risk
Allura Red ACColour (azo)E249High risk
Potassium nitritePreservativeE250High risk
Sodium nitritePreservativeE251High risk
Sodium nitratePreservativeE252High risk
Potassium nitratePreservativeE320High risk
BHAAntioxidantE321High risk
BHTAntioxidantE407High risk
CarrageenanThickenerE433High risk
Polysorbate 80EmulsifierE466High risk
Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC)EmulsifierE951High risk
AspartameSweetenerE955High risk
SucraloseSweetenerE127Moderate risk
ErythrosineColourE131Moderate risk
Patent Blue VColourE133Moderate risk
Brilliant Blue FCFColourE150CModerate risk
Ammonia caramelColourE150DModerate risk
Sulphite ammonia caramelColourE210Moderate risk
Benzoic acidPreservativeE211Moderate risk
Sodium benzoatePreservativeE212Moderate risk
Potassium benzoatePreservativeE220Moderate risk
Sulphur dioxidePreservativeE221Moderate risk
Sodium sulphitePreservativeE223Moderate risk
Sodium metabisulphitePreservativeE224Moderate risk
Potassium metabisulphitePreservativeE319Moderate risk
TBHQAntioxidantE338Moderate risk
Phosphoric acidAcidity regulatorE339Moderate risk
Sodium phosphatesAcidity regulatorE340Moderate risk
Potassium phosphatesAcidity regulatorE450Moderate risk
DiphosphatesStabiliserE451Moderate risk
TriphosphatesStabiliserE471Moderate risk
Mono- & diglycerides of fatty acidsEmulsifierE472EModerate risk
DATEMEmulsifierE620Moderate risk
Glutamic acidFlavour enhancerE621Moderate risk
Monosodium glutamate (MSG)Flavour enhancerE950Moderate risk
Acesulfame KSweetenerE952Moderate risk
CyclamateSweetenerE954Moderate risk
SaccharinSweetenerE961Moderate risk
NeotameSweetenerE968Moderate risk
ErythritolSweetenerE120Low risk
Cochineal / CarmineColourE132Low risk
IndigotineColourE1400Low risk
DextrinModified starchE1404Low risk
Oxidised starchModified starchE141Low risk
Copper chlorophyllinsColourE1412Low risk
Distarch phosphateModified starchE1414Low risk
Acetylated distarch phosphateModified starchE1442Low risk
Hydroxypropyl distarch phosphateModified starchE1450Low risk
Starch sodium octenyl succinateModified starchE150ALow risk
Plain caramelColourE160ELow risk
Beta-apo-8-carotenalColourE172Low risk
Iron oxidesColourE200Low risk
Sorbic acidPreservativeE202Low risk
Potassium sorbatePreservativeE280Low risk
Propionic acidPreservativeE282Low risk
Calcium propionatePreservativeE341Low risk
Calcium phosphatesAcidity regulatorE410Low risk
Locust bean gumThickenerE412Low risk
Guar gumThickenerE415Low risk
Xanthan gumThickenerE420Low risk
SorbitolSweetener / HumectantE421Low risk
MannitolSweetenerE460Low risk
CelluloseBulking agentE476Low risk
Polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR)EmulsifierE481Low risk
Sodium stearoyl-2-lactylateEmulsifierE551Low risk
Silicon dioxideAnti-cakingE627Low risk
Disodium guanylateFlavour enhancerE631Low risk
Disodium inosinateFlavour enhancerE635Low risk
Disodium 5-ribonucleotidesFlavour enhancerE953Low risk
IsomaltSweetenerE965Low risk
MaltitolSweetenerE967Low risk
XylitolSweetenerE100No known risk
CurcuminColourE101No known risk
RiboflavinColourE140No known risk
ChlorophyllsColourE1510No known risk
EthanolSolventE160ANo known risk
CarotenesColourE160CNo known risk
Paprika extractColourE162No known risk
Beetroot RedColourE163No known risk
AnthocyaninsColourE170No known risk
Calcium carbonateColour / Anti-cakingE270No known risk
Lactic acidAcidity regulatorE296No known risk
Malic acidAcidity regulatorE300No known risk
Ascorbic acid (Vit C)AntioxidantE301No known risk
Sodium ascorbateAntioxidantE306No known risk
Tocopherols (Vit E)AntioxidantE307No known risk
Alpha-tocopherolAntioxidantE322No known risk
LecithinsEmulsifierE325No known risk
Sodium lactateAcidity regulatorE330No known risk
Citric acidAcidity regulatorE331No known risk
Sodium citratesAcidity regulatorE334No known risk
Tartaric acidAcidity regulatorE414No known risk
Acacia gumThickenerE422No known risk
GlycerolHumectantE440No known risk
PectinThickenerE441No known risk
GelatineGelling agentE500No known risk
Sodium carbonatesAcidity regulatorE501No known risk
Potassium carbonatesAcidity regulatorE503No known risk
Ammonium carbonatesRaising agentE509No known risk
Calcium chlorideFirming agentE575No known risk
Glucono delta-lactoneAcidity regulatorE901No known risk
BeeswaxGlazing agentE903No known risk
Carnauba waxGlazing agentE904No known risk
ShellacGlazing agentE960No known risk
Steviol glycosides (Stevia)Sweetener