E-numbers are simply the code numbers used to identify food additives that have been shown to be safe and officially approved for use in food across the EU.

Blocks of numbers are allocated to specific groups of additives. For example, the colours are all in the E100 series (eg E150 caramel and E162 beetroot red); the preservatives are in the E200 series (eg E202 potassium sorbate and E211 sodium benzoate); the antioxidants are in the E300 series and so on.

All of the currently EU approved food additives are listed below by additive type, E number and additive name.

You can use the search facility by typing in an additive name or an E number, or navigate to all additives within a particular category by typing in the category name, eg preservative.

Each column can be sorted by clicking on the heading.

Type of AdditiveE-NumberName of Additive
Type of AdditiveE-NumberName of Additive
ColoursE100Curcumin
ColoursE101Riboflavin (i), Riboflavin-5'-phosphate (ii)
ColoursE102Tartrazine
ColoursE104Quinoline yellow
ColoursE110Sunset Yellow FCF; Orange Yellow S
ColoursE120Cochineal; Carminic acid; Carmines
ColoursE122Azorubine; Carmoisine
ColoursE123Amaranth
ColoursE124Ponceau 4R; Cochineal Red A
ColoursE127Erythrosine
ColoursE129Allura Red AC
ColoursE131Patent Blue V
ColoursE132lndigotine; Indigo Carmine
ColoursE133Brilliant Blue FCF
ColoursE140Chlorophylls and chlorophyllins
ColoursE141Copper complexes of chlorophyll and chlorophyllins
ColoursE142Green S
ColoursE150aPlain caramel
ColoursE150bCaustic sulphite caramel
ColoursE150cAmmonia caramel
ColoursE150dSulphite ammonia caramel
ColoursE151Brilliant Black BN; Black PN
ColoursE153Vegetable carbon
ColoursE154Brown FK
ColoursE155Brown HT
ColoursE160aCarotenes
ColoursE160bAnnatto; Bixin; Norbixin
ColoursE160cPaprika extract; Capsanthian; Capsorubin
ColoursE160dLycopene
ColoursE160eBeta-apo-8'-carotenal (C30)
ColoursE160fEthyl ester of beta-apo-8'-carotenoic acid (C30)
ColoursE161bLutein
ColoursE161gCanthaxanthin
ColoursE162Beetroot Red; Betanin
ColoursE163Anthocyanins
ColoursE170Calcium carbonate
ColoursE171Titanium dioxide
ColoursE172Iron oxides and hydroxides
ColoursE173Aluminium
ColoursE174Silver
ColoursE175Gold
ColoursE180Litholrubine BK
PreservativesE200Sorbic acid
PreservativesE202Potassium sorbate
PreservativesE203Calcium sorbate
PreservativesE210Benzoic acid
PreservativesE211Sodium benzoate
PreservativesE212Potassium benzoate
PreservativesE213Calcium benzoate
PreservativesE214Ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate
PreservativesE215Sodium ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate
PreservativesE218Methyl p-hydroxybenzoate
PreservativesE219Sodium methyl p-hydroxybenzoate
PreservativesE220Sulphur dioxide
PreservativesE221Sodium sulphite
PreservativesE222Sodium hydrogen sulphite
PreservativesE223Sodium metabisulphite
PreservativesE224Potassium metabisulphite
PreservativesE226Calcium sulphite
PreservativesE227Calcium hydrogen sulphite
PreservativesE228Potassium hydrogen sulphite
PreservativesE230Biphenyl; diphenyl
PreservativesE234Nisin
PreservativesE235Natamycin
PreservativesE239Hexamethylene tetramine
PreservativesE242Dimethyl dicarbonate
PreservativesE249Potassium nitrite
PreservativesE250Sodium nitrite
PreservativesE251Sodium nitrate
PreservativesE252Potassium nitrate
PreservativesE280Propionic acid
PreservativesE281Sodium propionate
PreservativesE282Calcium propionate
PreservativesE283Potassium propionate
PreservativesE284Boric acid
PreservativesE285Sodium tetraborate; borax
PreservativesE1105Lysozyme
AntioxidantsE300Ascorbic acid
AntioxidantsE301Sodium ascorbate
AntioxidantsE302Calcium ascorbate
AntioxidantsE304Fatty acid esters of ascorbic acid
AntioxidantsE306Tocopherols
AntioxidantsE307Alpha-tocopherol
AntioxidantsE308Gamma-tocopherol
AntioxidantsE309Delta-tocopherol
AntioxidantsE310Propyl gallate
AntioxidantsE311Octyl gallate
AntioxidantsE312Dodecyl gallate
AntioxidantsE315Erythorbic acid
AntioxidantsE316Sodium erythorbate
AntioxidantsE319Tertiary-butyl hydroquinone (TBHQ)
AntioxidantsE320Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA)
AntioxidantsE321Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)
AntioxidantsE392Extracts of rosemary
AntioxidantsE5864-Hexylresorcinol
SweetenersE420Sorbitol (i), Sorbitol syrup (ii)
SweetenersE421Mannitol
SweetenersE950Acesulfame K
SweetenersE951Aspartame
SweetenersE952Cyclamic acid and its Na and Ca salts
SweetenersE953lsomalt
SweetenersE954Saccharin and its Na - K and Ca salts
SweetenersE955Sucralose
SweetenersE957Thaumatin
SweetenersE959Neohesperidine DC
SweetenersE960Steviol glycoside
SweetenersE961Neotame (as a flavour enhancer)
SweetenersE962Salt of aspartame-acesulfame
SweetenersE965Maltitol (i), Maltitol syrup (ii)
SweetenersE966Lactitol
SweetenersE967Xylitol
SweetenersE968Erythritol
Emulsifiers – Stabilisers – Thickeners – Gelling AgentsE322Lecithins
Emulsifiers – Stabilisers – Thickeners – Gelling AgentsE400Alginic acid
Emulsifiers – Stabilisers – Thickeners – Gelling AgentsE401Sodium alginate
Emulsifiers – Stabilisers – Thickeners – Gelling AgentsE402Potassium alginate
Emulsifiers – Stabilisers – Thickeners – Gelling AgentsE403Ammonium alginate
Emulsifiers – Stabilisers – Thickeners – Gelling AgentsE404Calcium alginate
Emulsifiers – Stabilisers – Thickeners – Gelling AgentsE405Propane-1-2-diol alginate
Emulsifiers – Stabilisers – Thickeners – Gelling AgentsE406Agar
Emulsifiers – Stabilisers – Thickeners – Gelling AgentsE407Carrageenan
Emulsifiers – Stabilisers – Thickeners – Gelling AgentsE407aProcessed eucheuma seaweed
Emulsifiers – Stabilisers – Thickeners – Gelling AgentsE410Locust bean gum; carob gum
Emulsifiers – Stabilisers – Thickeners – Gelling AgentsE412Guar gum
Emulsifiers – Stabilisers – Thickeners – Gelling AgentsE413Tragacanth
Emulsifiers – Stabilisers – Thickeners – Gelling AgentsE414Acacia gum; gum arabic
Emulsifiers – Stabilisers – Thickeners – Gelling AgentsE415Xanthan gum
Emulsifiers – Stabilisers – Thickeners – Gelling AgentsE416Karaya gum
Emulsifiers – Stabilisers – Thickeners – Gelling AgentsE417Tara gum
Emulsifiers – Stabilisers – Thickeners – Gelling AgentsE418Gellan gum
Emulsifiers – Stabilisers – Thickeners – Gelling AgentsE425Konjac
Emulsifiers – Stabilisers – Thickeners – Gelling AgentsE426Soybean hemicellulose
Emulsifiers – Stabilisers – Thickeners – Gelling AgentsE427Cassia gum
Emulsifiers – Stabilisers – Thickeners – Gelling AgentsE432Polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate; Polysorbate 20
Emulsifiers – Stabilisers – Thickeners – Gelling AgentsE433Polyoxyethylene sorbitan mono-oleate; Polysorbate 80
Emulsifiers – Stabilisers – Thickeners – Gelling AgentsE434Polyoxyethylene sorbitan monopalmitate; Polysorbate 40
Emulsifiers – Stabilisers – Thickeners – Gelling AgentsE435Polyoxyethylene sorbitan monostearate; Polysorbate 60
Emulsifiers – Stabilisers – Thickeners – Gelling AgentsE436Polyoxyethylene sorbitan tristearate; Polysorbate 65
Emulsifiers – Stabilisers – Thickeners – Gelling AgentsE440Pectins
Emulsifiers – Stabilisers – Thickeners – Gelling AgentsE442Ammonium phosphatides
Emulsifiers – Stabilisers – Thickeners – Gelling AgentsE444Sucrose acetate isobutyrate
Emulsifiers – Stabilisers – Thickeners – Gelling AgentsE445Glycerol esters of wood rosins
Emulsifiers – Stabilisers – Thickeners – Gelling AgentsE460Cellulose
Emulsifiers – Stabilisers – Thickeners – Gelling AgentsE461Methyl cellulose
Emulsifiers – Stabilisers – Thickeners – Gelling AgentsE462Ethyl cellulose
Emulsifiers – Stabilisers – Thickeners – Gelling AgentsE463Hydroxypropyl cellulose
Emulsifiers – Stabilisers – Thickeners – Gelling AgentsE464Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose
Emulsifiers – Stabilisers – Thickeners – Gelling AgentsE465Ethyl methyl cellulose
Emulsifiers – Stabilisers – Thickeners – Gelling AgentsE466Carboxy methyl cellulose
Emulsifiers – Stabilisers – Thickeners – Gelling AgentsE468Crosslinked sodium carboxy methyl cellulose
Emulsifiers – Stabilisers – Thickeners – Gelling AgentsE469Enzymatically hydrolysed carboxy methyl cellulose
Emulsifiers – Stabilisers – Thickeners – Gelling AgentsE470aSodium and potassium and calcium salts of fatty acids
Emulsifiers – Stabilisers – Thickeners – Gelling AgentsE470bMagnesium salts of fatty acids
Emulsifiers – Stabilisers – Thickeners – Gelling AgentsE471Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids
Emulsifiers – Stabilisers – Thickeners – Gelling AgentsE472aAcetic acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids
Emulsifiers – Stabilisers – Thickeners – Gelling AgentsE472bLactic acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids
Emulsifiers – Stabilisers – Thickeners – Gelling AgentsE472cCitric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids
Emulsifiers – Stabilisers – Thickeners – Gelling AgentsE472dTartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids
Emulsifiers – Stabilisers – Thickeners – Gelling AgentsE472eMono- and diacetyltartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids
Emulsifiers – Stabilisers – Thickeners – Gelling AgentsE472fMixed acetic and tartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids
Emulsifiers – Stabilisers – Thickeners – Gelling AgentsE473Sucrose esters of fatty acids
Emulsifiers – Stabilisers – Thickeners – Gelling AgentsE474Sucroglycerides
Emulsifiers – Stabilisers – Thickeners – Gelling AgentsE475Polyglycerol esters of fatty acids
Emulsifiers – Stabilisers – Thickeners – Gelling AgentsE476Polyglycerol polyricinoleate
Emulsifiers – Stabilisers – Thickeners – Gelling AgentsE477Propane-1-2-diol esters of fatty acids
Emulsifiers – Stabilisers – Thickeners – Gelling AgentsE479bThermally oxidised soya bean oil interacted with mono­ and diglycerides of fatty acids
Emulsifiers – Stabilisers – Thickeners – Gelling AgentsE481Sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate
Emulsifiers – Stabilisers – Thickeners – Gelling AgentsE482Calcium stearoyl-2-lactylate
Emulsifiers – Stabilisers – Thickeners – Gelling AgentsE483Stearyl tartrate
Emulsifiers – Stabilisers – Thickeners – Gelling AgentsE491Sorbitan monostearate
Emulsifiers – Stabilisers – Thickeners – Gelling AgentsE492Sorbitan tristearate
Emulsifiers – Stabilisers – Thickeners – Gelling AgentsE493Sorbitan monolaurate
Emulsifiers – Stabilisers – Thickeners – Gelling AgentsE494Sorbitan monooleate
Emulsifiers – Stabilisers – Thickeners – Gelling AgentsE495Sorbitan monopalmitate
Emulsifiers – Stabilisers – Thickeners – Gelling AgentsE1103Invertase
OthersE260Acetic acid
OthersE261Potassium acetate
OthersE262Sodium acetate
OthersE263Calcium acetate
OthersE270Lactic acid
OthersE290Carbon dioxide
OthersE296Malic acid
OthersE297Fumaric acid
OthersE325Sodium lactate
OthersE326Potassium lactate
OthersE327Calcium lactate
OthersE330Citric acid
OthersE331Sodium citrates
OthersE332Potassium citrates
OthersE333Calcium citrates
OthersE334Tartaric acid (L-(+))
OthersE335Sodium tartrates
OthersE336Potassium tartrates
OthersE337Sodium potassium tartrate
OthersE338Phosphoric acid
OthersE339Sodium phosphates
OthersE340Potassium phosphates
OthersE341Calcium phosphates
OthersE343Magnesium phosphates
OthersE350Sodium malates
OthersE351Potassium malate
OthersE352Calcium malates
OthersE353Metatartaric acid
OthersE354Calcium tartrate
OthersE355Adipic acid
OthersE356Sodium adipate
OthersE357Potassium adipate
OthersE363Succinic acid
OthersE380Triammonium citrate
OthersE385Calcium disodium ethylene diamine tetra-acetate; calcium disodium EDTA
OthersE422Glycerol
OthersE431Polyoxyethylene (40) stearate
OthersE450Diphosphates
OthersE451Triphosphates
OthersE452Polyphosphates
OthersE459Beta-cyclodextrin
OthersE500Sodium carbonates
OthersE501Potassium carbonates
OthersE503Ammonium carbonates
OthersE504Magnesium carbonates
OthersE507Hydrochloric acid
OthersE508Potassium chloride
OthersE509Calcium chloride
OthersE511Magnesium chloride
OthersE512Stannous chloride
OthersE513Sulphuric acid
OthersE514Sodium sulphates
OthersE515Potassium sulphates
OthersE516Calcium sulphate
OthersE517Ammonium sulphate
OthersE520Aluminium sulphate
OthersE521Aluminium sodium sulphate
OthersE522Aluminium potassium sulphate
OthersE523Aluminium ammonium sulphate
OthersE524Sodium hydroxide
OthersE525Potassium hydroxide
OthersE526Calcium hydroxide
OthersE527Ammonium hydroxide
OthersE528Magnesium hydroxide
OthersE529Calcium oxide
OthersE530Magnesium oxide
OthersE535Sodium ferrocyanide
OthersE536Potassium ferrocyanide
OthersE538Calcium ferrocyanide
OthersE541Sodium aluminium phosphate
OthersE551Silicon dioxide
OthersE552Calcium silicate
OthersE553aMagnesium silicate (i), Magnesium trisilicate (ii)
OthersE553bTalc
OthersE554Sodium aluminium silicate
OthersE555Potassium aluminium silicate
OthersE556Aluminium calcium silicate
OthersE558Bentonite
OthersE559Aluminium silicate; Kaolin
OthersE570Fatty acids
OthersE574Gluconic acid
OthersE575Glucono delta-lactone
OthersE576Sodium gluconate
OthersE577Potassium gluconate
OthersE578Calcium gluconate
OthersE579Ferrous gluconate
OthersE585Ferrous lactate
OthersE620Glutamic acid
OthersE621Monosodium glutamate
OthersE622Monopotassium glutamate
OthersE623Calcium diglutamate
OthersE624Monoammonium glutamate
OthersE625Magnesium diglutamate
OthersE626Guanylic acid
OthersE627Disodium guanylate
OthersE628Dipotassium guanylate
OthersE629Calcium guanylate
OthersE630lnosinic acid
OthersE631Disodium inosinate
OthersE632Dipotassium inosinate
OthersE633Calcium inosinate
OthersE634Calcium 5'-ribonucleotides
OthersE635Disodium 5'-ribonucleotides
OthersE640Glycine and its sodium salt
OthersE650Zinc acetate
OthersE900Dimethylpolysiloxane
OthersE901Beeswax: white and yellow
OthersE902Candelilla wax
OthersE903Carnauba wax
OthersE904Shellac
OthersE905Microcrystalline wax
OthersE912Montan acid esters
OthersE914Oxidised Polyethylene wax
OthersE920L-Cysteine
OthersE927bCarbamide
OthersE938Argon
OthersE939Helium
OthersE941Nitrogen
OthersE942Nitrous oxide
OthersE943aButane
OthersE943bIso-butane
OthersE944Propane
OthersE948Oxygen
OthersE949Hydrogen
OthersE999Quillaia extract
OthersE1200Polydextrose
OthersE1201Polyvinylpyrrolidone
OthersE1202Polyvinylpolypyrrolidone
OthersE1203Polyvinyl alcohol
OthersE1204Pullulan
OthersE1205Basic methacrylate copolymer
OthersE1404Oxidised starch
OthersE1410Monostarch phosphate
OthersE1412Distarch phosphate
OthersE1413Phosphated distarch phosphate
OthersE1414Acetylated distarch phosphate
OthersE1420Acetylated starch
OthersE1422Acetylated distarch adipate
OthersE1440Hydroxyl propyl starch
OthersE1442Hydroxy propyl distarch phosphate
OthersE1450Starch sodium octenyl succinate
OthersE1451Acetylated oxidised starch
OthersE1452Starch aluminium Octenyl succinate
OthersE1505Triethyl citrate
OthersE1518Glyceryl triacetate; triacetin
OthersE1520Propan-1-2-diol; propylene glycol
OthersE1521Polyethylene glycol

 

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