Foodlaw-Reading

Dr David Jukes, The University of Reading, UK

Providng access to food law since May 1996

.....

Last update: 29 January, 2024

EU Food Additives: Listing by E Number

To go to main food additive page, click here.
For an archive page showing the previous listing for 1995-2011, click here

The list below gives the reference number (the "E number") and the English name of all those additives now listed in Annex II of Regulation 1333/2008. Although the Annex in the original Regulation was empty, by virtue of Regulation 1129/2011 of 11 November 2011 (and related amendments), this now contains the comprehensive listing of permitted additives and their permitted uses. For links to the main Regulation, the amendments and a consolidated version of the Regulation, return to the main food additive page [click here]

A related numbering system is used by the Codex Alimentarius Commission for their International Numbering System (INS). This largely uses the same numbers (but without the E). Discussions are held by the Codex Committee on Food Additives. Details of the Codex listing of additives can be found on the pages of the Codex General Standard for Food Additives (GSFA) Online Database.

Note for the UK: Following the UK's departure from the European Union, only those additives which were either (a) permitted on the day the UK left, or (b) have been subsequently approved by domestic legislation, can be used in Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland). Under the terms of the Northern Ireland Protocol, Northern Ireland continues to comply with the EU listing. This listing does not indicate any differences for Great Britain.

E 100 Curcumin
E 101 Riboflavins
E 102 Tartrazine
E 104 Quinoline Yellow
E 110 Sunset Yellow FCF/Orange Yellow S
E 120 Carminic acid, Carmine [Names amended by Regulation 2018/1472]
E 122 Azorubine, Carmoisine
E 123 Amaranth
E 124 Ponceau 4R, Cochineal Red A
E 127 Erythrosine
E 129 Allura Red AC
E 131 Patent Blue V
E 132 Indigotine, Indigo carmine
E 133 Brilliant Blue FCF
E 140 Chlorophylls and chlorophyllins
E 141 Copper complexes of chlorophylls, chlorophyllins
E 142 Green S
E 150a Plain caramel (The term caramel relates to products of a more or less intense brown colour which are intended for colouring. It does not correspond to the sugary aromatic product obtained from heating sugars and which is used for flavouring food (e.g. confectionery, pastry, alcoholic drinks).
E 150b Caustic sulphite caramel
E 150c Ammonia caramel
E 150d Sulphite ammonia caramel
E 151 Brilliant Black PN [Name updated by Regulation 1274/2013 of 6 December 2013]
E 153 Vegetable carbon
E 155 Brown HT
E 160a Carotenes
E 160b Annatto, Bixin, Norbixin [Deleted with effect from 2 January 2021 by Regulation 2020/771 of 11 June 2020. Replaced by next two items]
E 160b(i) Annatto Bixin [Added by Regulation 2020/771 of 11 June 2020]
E 160b(ii) Annatto Norbixin [Added by Regulation 2020/771 of 11 June 2020]
E 160c Paprika extract, capsanthin, capsorubin
E 160d Lycopene
E 160e Beta-apo-8'-carotenal (C 30)
E 161b Lutein
E 161g Canthaxanthin [Not authorised for food.. It is still listed for use in medicinal products]
E 162 Beetroot Red, betanin
E 163 Anthocyanins
E 170 Calcium carbonate
E 171 Titanium dioxide [Not authorised for food. Removed by Regulation 2022/63 of 14 January 2022 - Effective 7 August 2022 . It is still listed for use in medicinal products]
E 172 Iron oxides and hydroxides [Added by Regulation 510/2013 of 3 June 2013]
E 173 Aluminium
E 174 Silver
E 175 Gold
E 180 Litholrubine BK
E 200 Sorbic acid
E 202 Potassium sorbate
E 203 Calcium sorbate [Removed by Regulation 2018/98 from 12 August 2018]
E 210 Benzoic acid (1)
E 211 Sodium benzoate (1)
E 212 Potassium benzoate (1)
E 213 Calcium benzoate (1)
- (1) Benzoic acid may be present in certain fermented products resulting from the fermentation process following good manufacturing practice.
E 214 Ethyl-p-hydroxybenzoate
E 215 Sodium ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate
E 218 Methyl p-hydroxybenzoate
E 219 Sodium methyl p-hydroxybenzoate
E 220 Sulphur dioxide
E 221 Sodium sulphite
E 222 Sodium hydrogen sulphite
E 223 Sodium metabisulphite
E 224 Potassium metabisulphite
E 226 Calcium sulphite
E 227 Calcium hydrogen sulphite
E 228 Potassium hydrogen sulphite
E 234 Nisin
E 235 Natamycin
E 239 Hexamethylene tetramine
E 242 Dimethyl dicarbonate
E 243 Ethyl lauroyl arginate [Added by Regulation 506/2014 of 15 May 2014]
E 246 Glycolipids [Added by Regulation 2022/1037 of 29 June 2022]
E 249 Potassium nitrite
E 250 Sodium nitrite
E 251 Sodium nitrate
E 252 Potassium nitrate
E 260 Acetic acid
E 261 Potassium acetates [Added by Regulation 25/2013 of 16 January 2013]
E 262 Sodium acetates
E 263 Calcium acetate
E 267 Buffered Vinegar [Added by Regulation 2023/2086 of 28 September 2023]
E 270 Lactic acid
E 280 Propionic acid
E 281 Sodium propionate
E 282 Calcium propionate
E 283 Potassium propionate
E 284 Boric acid
E 285 Sodium tetraborate (borax)
E 290 Carbon dioxide
E 296 Malic acid
E 297 Fumaric acid
E 300 Ascorbic acid
E 301 Sodium ascorbate
E 302 Calcium ascorbate
E 304 Fatty acid esters of ascorbic acid
E 306 Tocopherol-rich extract
E 307 Alpha-tocopherol
E 308 Gamma-tocopherol
E 309 Delta-tocopherol
E 310 Propyl gallate
E 311 Octyl gallate [Removed by Regulation 2018/1481 from 25 October 2018]
E 312 Dodecyl gallate [Removed by Regulation 2018/1481 from 25 October 2018]
E 315 Erythorbic acid
E 316 Sodium erythorbate
E 319 Tertiary-butyl hydroquinone (TBHQ)
E 320 Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA)
E 321 Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)
E 322 Lecithins
E 322a Oat lecithin [Added by Regulation 2022/1023 of 28 June 2022]
E 325 Sodium lactate
E 326 Potassium lactate
E 327 Calcium lactate
E 330 Citric acid
E 331 Sodium citrates
E 332 Potassium citrates
E 333 Calcium citrates
E 334 Tarartaric acid (L(+)-)
E 335 Sodium tartrates
E 336 Potassium tartrates
E 337 Sodium potassium tartrate
E 338 Phosphoric acid
E 339 Sodium phosphates
E 340 Potassium phosphates
E 341 Calcium phosphates
E 343 Magnesium phosphates
E 345(i) Trimagnesium dicitrate [Added by Regulation 2024/346 of 22 January 2024]
E 350 Sodium malates
E 351 Potassium malate
E 352 Calcium malates
E 353 Metatartaric acid
E 354 Calcium tartrate
E 355 Adipic acid
E 356 Sodium adipate
E 357 Potassium adipate
E 363 Succinic acid
E 380 Triammonium citrate
E 385 Calcium disodium ethylene diamine tetra-acetate (Calcium disodium EDTA)
E 392 Extracts of rosemary
E 400 Alginic acid
E 401 Sodium alginate
E 402 Potassium alginate
E 403 Ammonium alginate
E 404 Calcium alginate
E 405 Propane-1, 2-diol alginate
E 406 Agar
E 407a Processed euchema seaweed
E 407 Carrageenan
E 410 Locust bean gum
E 412 Guar gum
E 413 Tragacanth
E 414 Gum arabic (acacia gum)
E 415 Xanthan gum
E 416 Karaya gum
E 417 Tara gum
E 418 Gellan gum
E 420 Sorbitols
E 421 Mannitol
E 422 Glycerol
E 423 Octenyl succinic acid modified gum arabic [Added by Regulation 817/2013 of 28 August 2013]
E 425 Konjac
E 426 Soybean hemicellulose
E 427 Cassia gum
E 431 Polyoxyethylene (40) stearate
E 432 Polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate (polysorbate 20)
E 433 Polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate (polysorbate 80)
E 434 Polyoxyethylene sorbitan monopalmitate (polysorbate 40)
E 435 Polyoxyethylene sorbitan monostearate (polysorbate 60)
E 436 Polyoxyethylene sorbitan tristearate (polysorbate 65)
E 440 Pectins
E 442 Ammonium phosphatides
E 444 Sucrose acetate isobutyrate
E 445 Glycerol esters of wood rosins
E 450 Diphosphates
E 451 Triphosphates
E 452 Polyphosphates
E 456 Potassium polyaspartate [Added by Regulation 2017/1399 of 28 July 2017]
E 459 Beta-cyclodextrin
E 460 Cellulose
E 461 Methyl cellulose
E 462 Ethyl cellulose
E 463 Hydroxypropyl cellulose
E 463a Low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose (L-HPC) [Added by Regulation 2018/1461 of 28 September 2018]
E 464 Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose
E 465 Ethyl methyl cellulose
E 466 Sodium carboxy methyl cellulose, cellulose gum [Names amended by Regulation 1274/2013 of 6 December 2013]
E 468 Cross-linked sodium carboxy methyl cellulose, cross linked cellulose gum
E 469 Enzymatically hydrolysed carboxy methyl cellulose, Enzymatically hydrolysed cellulose gum
E 470a Sodium, potassium and calcium salts of fatty acids
E 470b Magnesium salts of fatty acids
E 471 Mono-and diglycerides of fatty acids
E 472a Acetic acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids
E 472b Lactic acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids
E 472c Citric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids
E 472d Tartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids
E 472e Mono- and diacetyl tartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids
E 472f Mixed acetic and tartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids
E 473 Sucrose esters of fatty acids
E 474 Sucroglycerides
E 475 Polyglycerol esters of fatty acids
E 476 Polyglycerol polyricinoleate
E 477 Propane-1,2-diol esters of fatty acids
E 479b Thermally oxidised soya bean oil interacted with mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids
E 481 Sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate
E 482 Calcium stearoyl-2-lactylate
E 483 Stearyl tartrate [Removed by Regulation 2023/2379, effective 23 April 2024]
E 491 Sorbitan monostearate
E 492 Sorbitan tristearate
E 493 Sorbitan monolaurate
E 494 Sorbitan monooleate
E 495 Sorbitan monopalmitate
E 499 Stigmasterol-rich plant sterols [Added by Regulation 739/2013 of 30 July 2013]
E 500 Sodium carbonates
E 501 Potassium carbonates
E 503 Ammonium carbonates
E 504 Magnesium carbonates
E 507 Hydrochloric acid
E 508 Potassium chloride
E 509 Calcium chloride
E 511 Magnesium chloride
E 512 Stannous chloride
E 513 Sulphuric acid
E 514 Sodium sulphates
E 515 Potassium sulphates
E 516 Calcium sulphate
E 517 Ammonium sulphate
E 520 Aluminium sulphate
E 521 Aluminium sodium sulphate
E 522 Aluminium potassium sulphate
E 523 Aluminium ammonium sulphate
E 524 Sodium hydroxide
E 525 Potassium hydroxide
E 526 Calcium hydroxide
E 527 Ammonium hydroxide
E 528 Magnesium hydroxide
E 529 Calcium oxide
E 530 Magnesium oxide
E 534 Iron tartrate [Added by Regulation 2015/1739 of 28 September 2015]
E 535 Sodium ferrocyanide
E 536 Potassium ferrocyanide
E 538 Calcium ferrocyanide
E 541 Sodium aluminium phosphate acidic
E 551 Silicon dioxide
E 552 Calcium silicate
E 553a Magnesium silicate
E 553b Talc
E 554 Sodium aluminium silicate
E 555 Potassium aluminium silicate
E 556 Calcium aluminium silicate [Removed by Regulation 380/2012 from 31 January 2014]
E 558 Bentonite [Removed by Regulation 380/2012 from 31 May 2013]
E 559 Aluminium silicate (Kaolin) [Removed by Regulation 380/2012 from 31 January 2014]
E 570 Fatty acids
E 574 Gluconic acid
E 575 Glucono-delta-lactone
E 576 Sodium gluconate
E 577 Potassium gluconate
E 578 Calcium gluconate
E 579 Ferrous gluconate
E 585 Ferrous lactate
E 586 4-Hexylresorcinol
E 620 Glutamic acid
E 621 Monosodium glutamate
E 622 Monopotassium glutamate
E 623 Calcium diglutamate
E 624 Monoammonium glutamate
E 625 Magnesium diglutamate
E 626 Guanylic acid
E 627 Disodium guanylate
E 628 Dipotassium guanylate
E 629 Calcium guanylate
E 630 Inosinic acid
E 631 Disodium inosinate
E 632 Dipotassium inosinate
E 633 Calcium inosinate
E 634 Calcium 5'-ribonucleotides
E 635 Disodium 5'-ribonucleotides
E 640 Glycine and its sodium salt
E 641 L-leucine [Added by Regulation 2015/649 of 24 April 2015]
E 650 Zinc acetate
E 900 Dimethyl polysiloxane
E 901 Beeswax, white and yellow
E 902 Candelilla wax
E 903 Carnauba wax
E 904 Shellac
E 905 Microcrystalline wax
E 907 Hydrogenated poly-1-decene
E 912 Montan acid esters [Removed by Regulation 957/2014 from 1 October 2014]
E 914 Oxidised polyethylene wax
E 920 L-cysteine
E 927b Carbamide
E 938 Argon
E 939 Helium
E 941 Nitrogen
E 942 Nitrous oxide
E 943a Butane
E 943b Isobutane
E 944 Propane
E 948 Oxygen
E 949 Hydrogen
E 950 Acesulfame K
E 951 Aspartame
E 952 Cyclamates
E 953 Isomalt
E 954 Saccharins
E 955 Sucralose
E 957 Thaumatin
E 959 Neohesperidine DC
E 960 Steviol glycosides [Added by Regulation 1131/2011 of 11 November 2011; deleted by Regulation 2021/1156 of 13 July 2021. For GB, deleted by SI 2023, No 334 from 15 May 2023 (but transition until 14 November 2024)]
E 960a Steviol glycosides from Stevia [Added by Regulation 2021/1156 of 13 July 2021. For GB, added by SI 2023, No 334 from 15 May 2023]
E 960c Enzymatically produced steviol glycosides [Added by Regulation 2021/1156 of 13 July 2021. For GB, added by SI 2023, No 334 from 15 May 2023]
E 960d lucosylated steviol glycosides [Added by Regulation 2023/447 of 1 March 2023]
E 961 Neotame
E 962 Salt of aspartame-acesulfame
E 964 Polyglycitol syrup [Added by Regulation 1049/2012 of 8 November 2012]
E 965 Maltitols
E 966 Lactitol
E 967 Xylitol
E 968 Erythritol
E 969 Advantame [Added by Regulation 497/2014 of 14 May 2014]
E 999 Quillaia extract
E 1103 Invertase
E 1105 Lysozyme
E 1200 Polydextrose
E 1201 Polyvinylpyrrolidone
E 1202 Polyvinylpolypyrrolidone
E 1203 Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)
E 1204 Pullulan
E 1205 Basic methacrylate copolymer
E 1206 Neutral methacrylate copolymer [Added by Regulation 816/2013 of 28 August 2013]
E 1207 Anionic methacrylate copolymer [Added by Regulation 816/2013 of 28 August 2013]
E 1208 Polyvinylpyrrolidone-vinyl acetate copolymer [Added by Regulation 264/2014 of 14 March 2014]
E 1209 Polyvinyl alcohol-polyethylene glycol-graft-co-polymer [Added by Regulation 685/2014 of 20 June 2014]
E 1404 Oxidised starch
E 1410 Monostarch phosphate
E 1412 Distarch phosphate
E 1413 Phosphated distarch phosphate
E 1414 Acetylated distarch phosphate
E 1420 Acetylated starch
E 1422 Acetylated distarch adipate
E 1440 Hydroxy propyl starch
E 1442 Hydroxy propyl distarch phosphate
E 1450 Starch sodium octenyl succinate
E 1451 Acetylated oxidised starch
E 1452 Starch aluminium octenyl succinate
E 1505 Triethyl citrate
E 1517 Glyceryl diacetate (diacetin)
E 1518 Glyceryl triacetate (triacetin)
E 1519 Benzyl alcohol
E 1520 Propane-1, 2-diol (propylene glycol)
E 1521 Polyethylene glycol

This page was first provided on 6 December 2011 (Original version first published: 29 July 1996)

To go to main Foodlaw-Reading Index page, click here.