E numbers are codes for food additives and are usually found on food labels throughout the European Union. The numbering scheme follows that of the International Numbering System (INS) as determined by the Codex Alimentarius committee. Only a subset of the INS additives are approved for use in the European Union, giving rise to the 'E' prefix.
E numbers are also encountered on food labeling in other jurisdictions, including the GCC, Australia, New Zealand and Israel. They are increasingly (though still rarely) found on North American packaging, especially in Canada.
Additional recommended knowledge
Classification by numeric range
100–199
Colours
| 100–109 | yellows
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| 110–119 | oranges
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| 120–129 | reds
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| 130–139 | blues & violets
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| 140–149 | greens
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| 150–159 | browns & blacks
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| 160–199 | others
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200–299
Preservatives
| 200–209 | sorbates
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| 210–219 | benzoates
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| 220–229 | sulphites
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| 230–239 | phenols & formates (methanoates)
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| 240–259 | nitrates
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| 260–269 | acetates (ethanoates)
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| 270–279 | lactates
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| 280–289 | propionates (propanoates)
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| 290–299 | others
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300–399
Antioxidants & acidity regulators
| 300–305 | ascorbates (vitamin C)
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| 306–309 | Tocopherol (vitamin E)
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| 310–319 | gallates & erythorbates
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| 320–329 | lactates
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| 330–339 | citrates & tartrates
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| 340–349 | phosphates
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| 350–359 | malates & adipates
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| 360–369 | succinates & fumarates
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| 370–399 | others
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400–499
Thickeners, stabilisers & emulsifiers
| 400–409 | alginates
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| 410–419 | natural gums
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| 420–429 | other natural agents
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| 430–439 | polyoxyethene compounds
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| 440–449 | natural emulsifiers
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| 450–459 | phosphates
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| 460–469 | cellulose compounds
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| 470–489 | fatty acids & compounds
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| 490–499 | others
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500–599
pH regulators & anti-caking agents
| 500–509 | mineral acids & bases
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| 510–519 | chlorides & sulphates
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| 520–529 | sulphates & hydroxides
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| 530–549 | alkali metal compounds
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| 550–559 | silicates
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| 570–579 | stearates & gluconates
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| 580–599 | others
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600–699
Flavour enhancers
| 620–629 | glutamates
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| 630–639 | inosinates
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| 640–649 | others
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900–999
Miscellaneous
| 900–909 | waxes
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| 910–919 | synthetic glazes
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| 920–929 | improving agents
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| 930–949 | packaging gases
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| 950–969 | sweeteners
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| 990–999 | foaming agents
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1100–1599
Additional chemicals
| New chemicals that do not fall into standard classification schemes
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NB: Not all examples of a class fall into the given numeric range. Moreover, many chemicals, particularly in the E400–499 range, have a variety of purposes.
Full list
E100–E199 (colours)
- E100 Curcumin, turmeric (food colouring)
- E101 Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), formerly called lactoflavin (Vitamin G) (food colouring)
- E101a Riboflavin-5'-Phosphate (food colouring)
- E102 Tartrazine (FD&C Yellow 5) (food colouring)
- E103 Chrysoine resorcinol (food colouring)
- E104 Quinoline yellow (food colouring)
- E105 Fast Yellow AB (food colouring)
- E106 Riboflavin-5-Sodium Phosphate (food colouring)
- E107 Yellow 2G (food colouring)
- E110 Sunset Yellow FCF, Orange Yellow S, FD&C Yellow 6 (food colouring)
- E111 Orange GGN (food colouring)
- E120 Cochineal, Carminic acid, Carmines, Natural Red 4 (food colouring)
- E121 Orcein, Orchil (food colouring)
- E122 Carmoisine, Azorubine (food colouring)
- E123 Amaranth (FD&C Red 2) (food colouring)
- E124 Ponceau 4R, Cochineal Red A, Brilliant Scarlet 4R (food colouring)
- E125 Ponceau SX, Scarlet GN (food colouring)
- E126 Ponceau 6R (food colouring)
- E127 Erythrosine (FD&C Red 3) (food colouring)
- E128 Red 2G (food colouring)
- E129 Allura Red AC (FD&C Red 40) (food colouring)
- E130 Indanthrene blue RS (food colouring)
- E131 Patent Blue V (food colouring)
- E132 Indigo carmine, Indigotine, FD&C Blue 2 (food colouring)
- E133 Brilliant Blue FCF (FD&C Blue 1) (food colouring)
- E140 Chlorophylls and Chlorophyllins: (i) Chlorophylls (ii) Chlorophyllins (food colouring)
- E141 Copper complexes of chlorophylls and chlorophyllins (i) Copper complexes of chlorophylls (ii) Copper complexes of chlorophyllins (food colouring)
- E142 Greens S (food colouring)
- E143 Fast Green FCF (FD&C Green 3) (food colouring)
- E150a Plain Caramel (food colouring)
- E150b Caustic sulfite caramel (food colouring)
- E150c Ammonia caramel (food colouring)
- E150d Sulphite ammonia caramel (food colouring)
- E151 Black PN, Brilliant Black BN (food colouring)
- E152 Black 7984 (food colouring)
- E153 Carbon black, Vegetable carbon (food colouring)
- E154 Brown FK, Kipper Brown (food colouring)
- E155 Brown HT, Chocolate brown HT (food colouring)
- E160a Alpha-carotene, Beta-carotene, Gamma-carotene (food colouring)
- E160b Annatto, bixin, norbixin (food colouring)
- E160c Paprika extract, Capsanthin, capsorubin (food colouring)
- E160d Lycopene (food colouring)
- E160e Beta-apo-8'-carotenal (C 30) (food colouring)
- E160f Ethyl ester of beta-apo-8'-carotenic acid (C 30) (food colouring)
- E161a Flavoxanthin (food colouring)
- E161b Lutein (food colouring)
- E161c Cryptoxanthin (food colouring)
- E161d Rubixanthin (food colouring)
- E161e Violaxanthin (food colouring)
- E161f Rhodoxanthin (food colouring)
- E161g Canthaxanthin (food colouring)
- E161h Zeaxanthin (food colouring)
- E161i Citranaxanthin (food colouring)
- E161j Astaxanthin (food colouring)
- E162 Beetroot Red, Betanin (food colouring)
- E163 Anthocyanins (food colouring)
- E170 Calcium carbonate, Chalk (food colouring)
- E171 Titanium dioxide (food colouring)
- E172 Iron oxides and hydroxides (food colouring)
- E173 Aluminium (food colouring)
- E174 Silver (food colouring)
- E175 Gold (food colouring)
- E180 Pigment Rubine, Lithol Rubine BK (food colouring)
- E181 Tannin (food colouring)
E200–E299 (preservatives)
E300–E399 (antioxidants, acidity regulators)
E400–E499 (thickeners, stabilizers, emulsifiers)
- E400 Alginic acid (thickener) (stabiliser) (gelling agent) (emulsifier)
- E401 Sodium alginate (thickener) (stabiliser) (gelling agent) (emulsifier)
- E402 Potassium alginate (thickener) (stabiliser) (gelling agent) (emulsifier)
- E403 Ammonium alginate (thickener) (stabiliser) (emulsifier)
- E404 Calcium alginate (thickener) (stabiliser) (gelling agent) (emulsifier)
- E405 Propane-1,2-diol alginate (Propylene glycol alginate) (thickener) (stabiliser) (emulsifier)
- E406 Agar (thickener) (gelling agent) (stabiliser)
- E407 Carrageenan (thickener) (stabiliser) (gelling agent) (emulsifier)
- E407a Processed eucheuma seaweed (thickener) (stabiliser) (gelling agent) (emulsifier)
- E410 Locust bean gum (Carob gum) (thickener) (stabiliser) (gelling agent) (emulsifier)
- E412 Guar gum (thickener) (stabiliser)
- E413 Tragacanth (thickener) (stabiliser) (emulsifier)
- E414 Acacia gum (gum arabic) (thickener) (stabiliser) (emulsifier)
- E415 Xanthan gum (thickener) (stabiliser)
- E416 Karaya gum (thickener) (stabiliser) (emulsifier)
- E417 Tara gum (thickener) (stabiliser)
- E418 Gellan gum (thickener) (stabiliser) (emulsifier)
- E420 Sorbitol (i) Sorbitol (ii) Sorbitol syrup (emulsifier) (sweetener) (humectant)
- E421 Mannitol (anti-caking agent) (sweetener)
- E422 Glycerol (emulsifier) (sweetener)
- E425 Konjac (i) Konjac gum (ii) Konjac glucomannane (emulsifier)
- E430 Polyoxyethene (8) stearate (emulsifier) (stabiliser)
- E431 Polyoxyethene (40) stearate (emulsifier)
- E432 Polyoxyethene (20) sorbitan monolaurate (polysorbate 20) (emulsifier)
- E433 Polyoxyethene (20) sorbitan monooleate (polysorbate 80) (emulsifier)
- E434 Polyoxyethene (20) sorbitan monopalmitate (polysorbate 40) (emulsifier)
- E435 Polyoxyethene (20) sorbitan monostearate (polysorbate 60) (emulsifier)
- E436 Polyoxyethene (20) sorbitan tristearate (polysorbate 65) (emulsifier)
- E440 Pectins (i) pectin (ii) amidated pectin (emulsifier)
- E441 Gelatine (emulsifier) (gelling agent)
- E442 Ammonium phosphatides (emulsifier)
- E444 Sucrose acetate isobutyrate (emulsifier)
- E445 Glycerol esters of wood rosins (emulsifier)
- E450 Diphosphates (i) Disodium diphosphate (ii) Trisodium diphosphate (iii) Tetrasodium diphosphate (iv) Dipotassium diphosphate (v) Tetrapotassium diphosphate (vi) Dicalcium diphosphate (vii) Calcium dihydrogen diphosphate (emulsifier)
- E451 Triphosphates (i) Sodium tripolyphosphate (pentasodium triphosphate) (ii) Pentapotassium triphosphate (emulsifier)
- E452 Polyphosphates (i) Sodium polyphosphates (ii) Potassium polyphosphates (iii) Sodium calcium polyphosphate (iv) Calcium polyphophates (emulsifier)
- E459 Beta-cyclodextrine (emulsifier)
- E460 Cellulose (i) Microcrystalline cellulose (ii) Powdered cellulose (emulsifier)
- E461 Methyl cellulose (emulsifier)
- E462 Ethyl cellulose (emulsifier)
- E463 Hydroxypropyl cellulose (emulsifier)
- E464 Hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose (emulsifier)
- E465 Ethyl methyl cellulose (emulsifier)
- E466 Carboxymethyl cellulose, Sodium carboxy methyl cellulose (emulsifier)
- E468 Crosslinked sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (emulsifier) (Note - this additive is under discussion and may be included in a future amendment to the Directive on miscellaneous additives)
- E469 Enzymically hydrolysed carboxymethylcellulose (emulsifier)
- E470a Sodium, potassium and calcium salts of fatty acids (emulsifier) (anti-caking agent)
- E470b Magnesium salts of fatty acids (emulsifier) (anti-caking agent)
- E471 Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids (glyceryl monostearate, glyceryl distearate) (emulsifier)
- E472a Acetic acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids (emulsifier)
- E472b Lactic acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids (emulsifier)
- E472c Citric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids (emulsifier)
- E472d Tartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids (emulsifier)
- E472e Mono- and diacetyl tartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids (emulsifier)
- E472f Mixed acetic and tartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids (emulsifier)
- E473 Sucrose esters of fatty acids (emulsifier)
- E474 Sucroglycerides (emulsifier)
- E475 Polyglycerol esters of fatty acids (emulsifier)
- E476 Polyglycerol polyricinoleate (emulsifier)
- E477 Propane-1, 2-diol esters of fatty acids, propylene glycol esters of fatty acids (emulsifier)
- E478 Lactylated fatty acid esters of glycerol and propane-1 (emulsifier)
- E479b Thermally oxidized soya bean oil interacted with mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids (emulsifier)
- E481 Sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate (emulsifier)
- E482 Calcium stearoyl-2-lactylate (emulsifier)
- E483 Stearyl tartrate (emulsifier)
- E491 Sorbitan monostearate (emulsifier)
- E492 Sorbitan tristearate (emulsifier)
- E493 Sorbitan monolaurate (emulsifier)
- E494 Sorbitan monooleate (emulsifier)
- E495 Sorbitan monopalmitate (emulsifier)
E500–E599 (acidity regulators, anti-caking agents)
E600–E699 (flavour enhancers)
- E620 Glutamic acid (flavour enhancer)
- E621 Monosodium glutamate (MSG) (flavour enhancer)
- E622 Monopotassium glutamate (flavour enhancer)
- E623 Calcium diglutamate (flavour enhancer)
- E624 Monoammonium glutamate (flavour enhancer)
- E625 Magnesium diglutamate (flavour enhancer)
- E626 Guanylic acid (flavour enhancer)
- E627 Disodium guanylate, sodium guanylate (flavour enhancer)
- E628 Dipotassium guanylate (flavour enhancer)
- E629 Calcium guanylate (flavour enhancer)
- E630 Inosinic acid (flavour enhancer)
- E631 Disodium inosinate (flavour enhancer)
- E632 Dipotassium inosinate (flavour enhancer)
- E633 Calcium inosinate (flavour enhancer)
- E634 Calcium 5'-ribonucleotides (flavour enhancer)
- E635 Disodium 5'-ribonucleotides (flavour enhancer)
- E636 Maltol (flavour enhancer)
- E637 Ethyl maltol (flavour enhancer)
- E640 Glycine and its sodium salt (flavour enhancer)
E900–E999 (miscellaneous)
E1000–E1999 (additional chemicals)
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