Approved additives and E numbers (2024)

FAQs

Are food additives with E numbers safe? ›

All food additives, including artificial colours have an E number, which means they've passed safety tests and are approved for use in the EU. According to research funded by the Food Standards Agency, the 6 food colours most closely linked to hyperactivity in children are: E102 (tartrazine)

E numbers, short for Europe numbers, are codes for substances used as food additives, including those found naturally in many foods, such as vitamin C, for use within the European Union (EU) and European Free Trade Association (EFTA).

Some common food additives that may cause problems

Preservatives – benzoates 210, 211, 212, 213; nitrates 249, 250, 251, 252; sulphites 220, 221, 222, 223, 224, 225 and 228. Artificial sweetener – aspartame 951.

EFSA's Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources added to Food (ANS) concluded though that the exposure to E473 exceeded the acceptable daily intake (ADI) of 40 milligrams/kilogram/body weight/day (mg/kg/bw/day) for population groups including toddlers and children.

1. Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) Monosodium glutamate, or MSG, is a common food additive used to intensify and enhance the flavor of savory dishes.

The substances—brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben, Red Dye No. 3, and titanium dioxide—have each been linked to serious health problems, including a higher risk of cancer, nervous system damage, hyperactivity, and other behavioral problems.

According to several studies, health issues such as asthma, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), heart difficulties, cancer, obesity, and others are caused by harmful additives and preservatives. Some food additives may interfere with hormones and influences growth and development.

Monosodium glutamate (E621) is widely used in marketing as a flavor enhancer and is added to many processed foods.

In statistics, the symbol e is a mathematical constant approximately equal to 2.71828183. Prism switches to scientific notation when the values are very large or very small. For example: 2.3e-5, means 2.3 times ten to the minus five power, or 0.000023.

An additive that appears in the INS does not automatically have a corresponding E number. INS numbers are assigned by the committee to identify each food additive. INS numbers generally correspond to E numbers for the same compound, e.g. INS 102, Tartrazine, is also E102.

Are there E numbers in bananas? ›

For example, an organically grown all natural banana contains 50 or more chemicals including E560, E461, E462, E464, E466, E467, E101, E300, E306, E160a & E1510. E-number stabilisers, or E400s, are a vital ingredient for many supermarket products and are often natural.

Many E numbers are naturally occurring substances, such as vitamin B1 (E101) and even oxygen (E948).

Causes serious eye irritation. May cause respiratory irritation. May cause cancer.

Unfortunately, high amounts of E142 food colour can cause side effects. The most common are allergic reactions (e.g. skin allergies), asthma, hyperactivity, insomnia, and anaemia.

In the quantities usually used as additives for food preservation, acidification or stabilization, no harmful effects have been reported so far. On the contrary, ascorbic acid and ascorbates (E300 to E304) even have a health-promoting effect because they act like natural vitamin C which the body cannot produce itself.

In all, the likelihood of potassium sorbate causing harmful side effects is very low. But if you experience signs of a possible allergic reaction (like mouth tingling, swelling, itching or hives), stop eating or using the product, recommends the Mayo Clinic.