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Food Additive & E-Number Ingredient Checker

Q: What are E-numbers?

E-numbers are codes assigned to food additives by the European Union. Each E-number represents a specific additive that has been assessed for safety. For example, E621 is monosodium glutamate (MSG) and E300 is ascorbic acid (vitamin C). Not all E-number additives are controversial — many are natural substances like E160a (beta-carotene) or E330 (citric acid). The numbering system helps consumers identify exactly which additives are in their food regardless of language.

Q: Are food additives safe?

Most approved food additives are considered safe when consumed within recommended limits. Regulatory agencies like the FDA (US), EFSA (EU), FSA (UK), and MHLW (Japan) evaluate additives before approval. However, safety assessments can differ between countries, and some additives approved in one country may be banned in another. A few additives remain controversial due to ongoing research. AdditiveChecker helps you see the regulatory status of each additive across multiple countries.

Q: Why are some additives banned in Europe but legal in the US?

Different countries apply different risk assessment frameworks. The EU generally follows the 'precautionary principle,' banning substances when there is scientific uncertainty about safety. The US FDA tends to allow substances unless there is strong evidence of harm. Cultural attitudes, industry lobbying, historical precedent, and the specific studies each agency reviews also play a role. For example, several artificial food dyes (like Red 40 and Yellow 5) require warning labels in the EU but are freely used in the US.

Q: What is the most controversial food additive?

Aspartame is often considered the most controversial food additive. Despite being approved by over 100 countries, it remains debated due to studies examining potential health effects. Other highly controversial additives include titanium dioxide (E171, banned in the EU since 2022), high fructose corn syrup, MSG (E621), and several artificial food colorings like tartrazine (E102). AdditiveChecker provides detailed safety information and regulatory status for all these additives.

Q: How do I check if a food additive is safe?

Use AdditiveChecker to look up any food additive by name or E-number. You can also paste an entire ingredient label from a food product, and our analyzer will identify all additives and flag any that are controversial or banned in other countries. Each additive page shows the regulatory status across 10 countries including the US, EU, UK, Japan, Canada, Australia/NZ, India, South Korea, Brazil, and China, along with a safety rating and detailed information about the substance.

Check any food additive or E-number. See if it's safe, banned in other countries, or controversial — backed by FDA, EU, WHO, and UK regulatory data.

Paste a food label See banned ingredients

🇺🇸 FDA (US) 🇪🇺 EFSA (EU) 🇬🇧 FSA (UK) 🇯🇵 MHLW (Japan) 🌍 WHO/JECFA

1001

Additives Tracked

Banned Somewhere

Countries Compared

Most Searched Additives

The additives people look up most often.

MSG (E621)

Flavor enhancer

Aspartame (E951)

Artificial sweetener

Titanium Dioxide (E171)

White colorant

Red 40 (E129)

Artificial color

BHA

Antioxidant preservative

Sodium Benzoate (E211)

Preservative

Xanthan Gum (E415)

Thickener

Carrageenan (E407)

Stabilizer

Sucralose (E955)

Artificial sweetener

Potassium Sorbate (E202)

Preservative

Banned or Restricted Ingredients

Banned in at least one major market but legal in another.

View all 91

Alkannin

E103

Red dye. Formerly used, now delisted in EU

🇪🇺 Banned 🇺🇸 Legal

Quinoline Yellow

E104

EU requires warning label for children

🇪🇺 Legal 🇺🇸 Banned/NA

Fast Yellow AB

E105

Yellow azo dye. Delisted, not permitted in EU

🇪🇺 Banned 🇺🇸 Legal

Yellow 2G

E107

Yellow azo dye. Withdrawn from EU approved list in 2007

🇪🇺 Banned 🇺🇸 Banned/NA

Orange GGN

E111

Orange dye. Delisted in EU

🇪🇺 Banned 🇺🇸 Legal

Citrus Red 2

E121

Red dye. Not permitted in EU. Approved in US only for orange peel coloring

🇪🇺 Banned 🇺🇸 Legal

Azorubine / Carmoisine

E122

Red dye. EU warning label required

🇪🇺 Legal 🇺🇸 Banned/NA

Amaranth

E123

Red dye. Banned in US (Red No. 2). Limited use in EU

🇪🇺 Legal 🇺🇸 Banned/NA

Ponceau 4R

E124

Red dye. EU warning label required. Banned in US

🇪🇺 Legal 🇺🇸 Banned/NA

View all 91 banned or restricted ingredients →

Browse by Category

Flour Treatment Agent

Most Controversial Additives

Generate the most public debate and scientific scrutiny.

Tartrazine

Yellow dye. EU requires warning label: may have adverse effect on activity and attention in children

E102

Quinoline Yellow

EU requires warning label for children

E104

Sunset Yellow FCF

Orange-yellow dye. EU warning label required

E110

Azorubine / Carmoisine

Red dye. EU warning label required

E122

Amaranth

Red dye. Banned in US (Red No. 2). Limited use in EU

E123

Ponceau 4R

Red dye. EU warning label required. Banned in US

E124

Erythrosine

Red dye. Limited to cocktail cherries in EU

E127

Allura Red AC

Red dye (Red 40 in US). EU warning label required

E129

Titanium Dioxide

White color. Banned in EU since Aug 2022 due to genotoxicity concerns. Still legal in US

E171

Propyl p-hydroxybenzoate (Propylparaben)

Banned in EU for food use since 2006. Still used in US cosmetics

E216

Sodium Propyl p-hydroxybenzoate

Banned in EU. Paraben concerns

E217

Formaldehyde

Highly toxic. Banned worldwide as food additive. Known carcinogen (IARC Group 1)

E240

Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA)

Synthetic antioxidant. Classified as possible carcinogen by IARC. EU restricts use; more freely used in US

E320

Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT)

Synthetic antioxidant. Health debate ongoing. EU restricts; US broader use

E321

Carrageenan

From seaweed. Some controversy over gut inflammation. EU approved but under review

E407

Avoparcin

Glycopeptide antibiotic. Banned in EU in 1997 due to vancomycin resistance concerns

E708

Carbadox

Banned in EU since 1999. Still approved in US for swine. Carcinogen concerns

E712

Colistin

Polymyxin antibiotic. Banned as growth promoter. Last-resort antibiotic for humans, resistance is major concern

E716

Potassium Bromate

Banned in EU, UK, Canada, Brazil, China. Legal in US. IARC Group 2B carcinogen

E924

Azodicarbonamide (ADA)

Banned in EU and Australia. Legal in US. Known as 'yoga mat chemical'. Used as dough conditioner in US bread

E927a

Aspartame

Artificial sweetener. IARC classified as 'possibly carcinogenic' (Group 2B) in 2023. EU and FDA maintain it is safe at current levels

E951

Cyclamate

Artificial sweetener. BANNED in US since 1969. Legal in EU and 130+ countries

E952

Erythritol

Sugar alcohol. Zero calorie. Recent cardiovascular concerns being studied

E968

Acrylamide

Formed when starchy foods are cooked at high temperatures (frying, baking, roasting). In chips, bread, coffee, biscuits. IARC Group 2A (probably carcinogenic). EU set benchmark levels in 2017. Not intentionally added

Bisphenol A (BPA)

Endocrine disruptor from food packaging. In canned food linings, plastic containers. EU banned in baby bottles (2011). EFSA lowered TDI 20,000-fold in 2023. US FDA maintains current BPA uses are safe. Many companies moving to BPA-free

Diacetyl (Buttery Flavor)

Natural butter flavor compound. In microwave popcorn, margarine, artificial butter. 'Popcorn lung' (bronchiolitis obliterans) in factory workers. Consumer exposure levels considered safe. Many manufacturers removed it voluntarily

Glyphosate Residue

Herbicide residue found in cereals, bread, oats, lentils. IARC classified as 'probably carcinogenic' (Group 2A) in 2015. EU re-approved with conditions through 2033. US EPA says safe at current levels. Most controversial pesticide globally

High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS)

Called isoglucose in EU. Quota restrictions lifted in 2017. Dominant sweetener in US. Linked to obesity epidemic but debated whether worse than sugar

Melamine

Industrial chemical sometimes fraudulently added to increase apparent protein content. 2008 China milk scandal caused 300,000 illnesses and 6 deaths. Causes kidney stones and kidney failure. Maximum limits set globally

Microplastics

Plastic particles <5mm found in seafood, salt, water, honey, beer. Not intentionally added but ubiquitous contaminant. EU restricting intentionally added microplastics from 2023. Health effects under active research

Palm Oil

Most consumed vegetable oil globally. In ~50% of packaged supermarket products. Deforestation concerns. High in saturated fat. Process contaminant concerns (3-MCPD, glycidyl esters). EU requires labeling

PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances)

'Forever chemicals' found in food packaging, non-stick coatings, water. Linked to cancer, immune suppression, thyroid disruption. EU proposing universal PFAS ban. US EPA set limits in drinking water 2024. Found in almost all humans tested

Best-Of Guides

In-depth guides on the most searched food safety topics.

🇪🇺 ❌ 🇺🇸 ✅

Banned in EU, Legal in US

Additives with split regulations between Europe and America

🍬 ✅

Safest Sweeteners Ranked

All sweeteners compared by safety rating and regulatory status

⚠️ 🔥

Most Controversial Additives

Highest controversy food additives with detailed safety analysis

How It Works

Search or Paste

Search any additive by name or E-number, or paste an entire ingredient list from a food label.

Get Safety Info

See safety ratings and whether it's controversial - backed by real regulatory data from 10 countries.

Compare Countries

See if it's banned in the EU, US, UK, or Japan - and why regulations differ across borders.

More Guides

Specialized guides for different dietary needs.

🌿

Natural Preservatives

Natural vs synthetic preservatives guide

🌱

Vegan Additives Guide

Which additives are vegan-friendly?

👶

Kids: Additives to Avoid

EU warning label additives for parents

🤰

Pregnancy Caution

Additives to be cautious about during pregnancy

✅

Clean Label Guide

Additives considered clean label friendly

🎨

Artificial Colors Ranked

All food colors ranked by safety

Interactive Tools

Free tools to help you make healthier food choices.

🤔

Safety Quiz

Personalized additive recommendations

⚖️

Compare Additives

Side-by-side comparison tool

📈

Intake Calculator

Check your ADI limits

📖

Label Reading Guide

How to read food labels

Additives by Food Type

What additives are in common foods?

Soft Drinks Bread Candy Ice Cream Chips & Snacks Cereal Baby Food Energy Drinks Deli Meats Yogurt Plant Milk Frozen Meals Condiments Protein Bars Canned Food

Browse by E-Number Range

Explore AdditiveChecker

Use our Ingredient Label Analyzer to paste any food label and instantly flag controversial or banned additives. Browse the full list of banned and restricted ingredients, check all 1001+ additives, or explore by EU bans, US GRAS status, or safety rating.

Try our interactive tools: Safety Quiz, Additive Comparison Tool, Daily Intake Calculator, and How to Read Food Labels.

Join our 7-Day Clean Label Challenge for daily tips on eliminating harmful additives from your diet.

How to Avoid Concerning Additives

Practical tips for making healthier food choices.

Read the ingredient list, not just the label

Marketing claims like "natural" or "healthy" are often unregulated. The ingredient list tells the real story. Ingredients are listed in order of quantity -- the first few ingredients make up most of the product.

Fewer ingredients usually means fewer additives

Products with shorter ingredient lists tend to contain fewer artificial additives. A plain yogurt might have 2 ingredients, while a flavored one could have 15+.

Look up unfamiliar ingredients

Use our Ingredient Analyzer to paste any food label and instantly identify concerning additives.

Watch for multiple names for the same thing

Some additives have multiple names (e.g., MSG can appear as "monosodium glutamate," "E621," or "hydrolyzed protein"). Check our database to identify alternative names.

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about food additives and E-numbers.

What are E-numbers?

E-numbers are codes assigned to food additives by the European Union. Each E-number represents a specific additive that has been assessed for safety. For example, E621 is monosodium glutamate (MSG) and E300 is ascorbic acid (vitamin C). Not all E-number additives are controversial -- many are natural substances like E160a (beta-carotene) or E330 (citric acid). The numbering system helps consumers identify exactly which additives are in their food regardless of language.

Are food additives safe?

Most approved food additives are considered safe when consumed within recommended limits. Regulatory agencies like the FDA (US), EFSA (EU), FSA (UK), and MHLW (Japan) evaluate additives before approval. However, safety assessments can differ between countries, and some additives approved in one country may be banned in another. A few additives remain controversial due to ongoing research. AdditiveChecker helps you see the regulatory status of each additive across multiple countries.

Why are some additives banned in Europe but legal in the US?

Different countries apply different risk assessment frameworks. The EU generally follows the "precautionary principle," banning substances when there is scientific uncertainty about safety. The US FDA tends to allow substances unless there is strong evidence of harm. Cultural attitudes, industry lobbying, historical precedent, and the specific studies each agency reviews also play a role. For example, several artificial food dyes (like Red 40 and Yellow 5) require warning labels in the EU but are freely used in the US.

What is the most controversial food additive?

Aspartame is often considered the most controversial food additive. Despite being approved by over 100 countries, it remains debated due to studies examining potential health effects. Other highly controversial additives include titanium dioxide (E171, banned in the EU since 2022), high fructose corn syrup, MSG (E621), and several artificial food colorings like tartrazine (E102). AdditiveChecker provides detailed safety information and regulatory status for all these additives.

How do I check if a food additive is safe?

Use AdditiveChecker to look up any food additive by name or E-number. You can also paste an entire ingredient label from a food product, and our analyzer will identify all additives and flag any that are controversial or banned in other countries. Each additive page shows the regulatory status across 10 countries including the US, EU, UK, Japan, Canada, Australia/NZ, India, South Korea, Brazil, and China, along with a safety rating and detailed information about the substance.