What Are E-Numbers?

Mono- and Diglycerides of Fatty Acids

E471 is a common emulsifier made from glycerol and fatty acids. It helps mix ingredients that don't normally combine — like oil and water — and is widely used in bread, margarine, ice cream, and cakes.

Sodium Carbonates (Bicarbonate of Soda)

E500 is sodium bicarbonate — the same thing as baking soda. It's one of the most common and least controversial food additives, used as a raising agent in baked goods like bread, cakes, and biscuits.

Curcumin (Turmeric Extract)

E100 is curcumin — the natural yellow-orange pigment extracted from turmeric. It's used as a food colouring in mustard, butter, cheese, curries, and snack foods to give them a warm golden colour.

Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)

E621 is monosodium glutamate, better known as MSG. It's a flavour enhancer that intensifies savoury (umami) taste in foods like crisps, instant noodles, ready meals, and seasoning mixes. It's one of the most debated food additives, but is approved as safe worldwide.

Calcium Propionate

E282 is calcium propionate — a preservative widely used in bread and bakery products to prevent mould growth. It extends shelf life and is found in most commercially produced sliced bread in the UK.

Tartrazine

E102 is tartrazine — a synthetic lemon-yellow food colouring. It's one of the 'Southampton Six' artificial colours linked to hyperactivity in children, and UK/EU products containing it must carry a warning label.

Sunset Yellow FCF

E110 is Sunset Yellow FCF — a synthetic orange-yellow food colouring. Like E102, it's one of the Southampton Six artificial colours that must carry a hyperactivity warning on UK and EU food labels.

Cochineal / Carmine / Carminic Acid

E120 is cochineal (also called carmine) — a natural red food colouring derived from crushed cochineal insects. It produces vivid red and pink shades and is widely used in yoghurts, drinks, and confectionery, but it's not suitable for vegans or vegetarians.

Plain Caramel

E150a is plain caramel — the simplest form of caramel colour, made by heating sugar. It's one of the most widely used food colourings in the world, giving brown colour to cola, soy sauce, gravy, bread, and hundreds of other products.

Beta-Carotene

E160a is beta-carotene — the natural orange pigment found in carrots, sweet potatoes, and other orange vegetables. As a food additive, it's used to give products a yellow to orange colour and is also a source of vitamin A.

Sorbic Acid

E200 is sorbic acid — a widely used preservative that prevents the growth of mould, yeast, and fungi in food. It's commonly found in cheese, wine, baked goods, dried fruits, and dressings.

Sodium Benzoate

E211 is sodium benzoate — a preservative widely used in soft drinks, sauces, and pickled foods. It's effective at preventing bacterial growth in acidic products, but has attracted concern because it can form benzene (a carcinogen) when combined with vitamin C (ascorbic acid).

Sulphur Dioxide

E220 is sulphur dioxide (SO₂) — a preservative and antioxidant used in wine, dried fruit, soft drinks, and many other foods. It's one of the 14 allergens that must be declared on UK food labels, as it can trigger reactions in people with asthma or sulphite sensitivity.

Sodium Nitrite

E250 is sodium nitrite — a preservative used in bacon, ham, sausages, and other cured meats. It prevents the growth of botulism bacteria and gives cured meat its pink colour, but it's controversial because it can form nitrosamines, which are linked to bowel cancer.

Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C)

E300 is ascorbic acid — the same compound as vitamin C. As a food additive, it's used as an antioxidant to prevent foods from turning brown, losing colour, or going rancid. It's found in everything from fruit juices to cured meats and is considered completely safe.

Lecithins

E322 is lecithin — a natural emulsifier most commonly extracted from soybeans, but also found in egg yolks and sunflower seeds. It's one of the most widely used food additives, found in chocolate, margarine, bread, baked goods, and countless other products.

Citric Acid

E330 is citric acid — the same tart compound found naturally in lemons, limes, and oranges. It's one of the most widely used food additives in the world, functioning as an acidity regulator, flavouring, and preservative in everything from soft drinks to tinned tomatoes.

Carrageenan

E407 is carrageenan — a thickener, gelling agent, and stabiliser extracted from red seaweed. It's widely used in dairy products, plant-based milks, deli meats, and desserts. It's one of the more controversial natural additives, with ongoing debate about its effects on gut health.

Xanthan Gum

E415 is xanthan gum — a thickener and stabiliser produced by bacterial fermentation. It's one of the most widely used thickening agents in the food industry, found in salad dressings, sauces, soups, gluten-free baked goods, and ice cream.

Diphosphates

E450 refers to diphosphates (also called pyrophosphates) — a group of phosphate additives used as raising agents in baking, and as water-retention and emulsifying agents in processed meats. They're extremely common in commercial baked goods and meat products.

Cellulose

E460 is cellulose — the main structural fibre in plant cell walls. As a food additive, it's used as an anti-caking agent (preventing grated cheese from clumping), a bulking agent, and a source of insoluble fibre. It's derived from wood pulp or cotton and is found in grated cheese, tablets, bread, and low-calorie products.

DATEM (Diacetyl Tartaric Acid Esters of Mono- and Diglycerides)

E472e is DATEM (diacetyl tartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids) — an emulsifier used primarily as a dough conditioner in commercial bread. It strengthens gluten structure and improves bread volume, texture, and shelf life.

Acesulfame K (Acesulfame Potassium)

E950 is acesulfame potassium (acesulfame K) — an artificial sweetener approximately 200 times sweeter than sugar. It's calorie-free and widely used in diet drinks, sugar-free confectionery, tabletop sweeteners, and low-calorie products, often in combination with other sweeteners.

Aspartame

E951 is aspartame — the world's most widely used artificial sweetener, approximately 200 times sweeter than sugar. It's the sweetener in Diet Coke, Pepsi Max, and thousands of sugar-free and low-calorie products. It's one of the most studied food additives in history.

Sucralose

E955 is sucralose — an artificial sweetener approximately 600 times sweeter than sugar. It's the sweetener in Splenda and is widely used in diet drinks, sugar-free foods, protein products, and low-calorie alternatives. Unlike aspartame, it's heat-stable and can be used in baking.