September 12, 2026

E Numbers Explained: What They Are, Which to Avoid and Which Are Harmless

An E number is a code, not a verdict. The “E” stands for Europe: every additive on the list has been assessed by the European Food Safety Authority and given a number so that it can be declared the same way in every EU language. E300 is vitamin C. E160a is the beta-carotene in carrots. E406 is agar, the seaweed jelly used in Asian desserts for centuries.

That is worth remembering, because “no E numbers” on a packet tells you almost nothing — a manufacturer can write “ascorbic acid” instead of E300 and make the same claim. What matters is which additives are in the food, and a few of them do deserve attention.

How the numbering works

The first digit tells you what the additive does:

• E100–E199 Colours — E100 curcumin (turmeric), E120 cochineal, E160a beta-carotene, E171 titanium dioxide
• E200–E299 Preservatives — E202 potassium sorbate, E211 sodium benzoate, E220 sulphur dioxide, E250 sodium nitrite
• E300–E399 Antioxidants and acidity regulators — E300 ascorbic acid, E322 lecithin, E330 citric acid
• E400–E499 Thickeners, gelling agents, emulsifiers, stabilisers — E406 agar, E407 carrageenan, E412 guar gum, E440 pectin, E471 mono- and diglycerides
• E500–E599 Acidity regulators and anti-caking agents — E500 sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), E551 silicon dioxide
• E600–E699 Flavour enhancers — E621 monosodium glutamate
• E900–E999 Glazing agents, sweeteners and others — E901 beeswax, E904 shellac, E951 aspartame, E955 sucralose
• E1000 and above — enzymes, modified starches (E1400s) and miscellaneous, such as E1105 lysozyme

Labels may show either the number or the name, so “E330” and “citric acid” are the same ingredient.

The E numbers that carry a warning

These are the ones where a regulator has attached a condition, a limit change or a mandatory warning — the closest thing to an official “watch this” list.

The six “Southampton” colours. E102 tartrazine, E104 quinoline yellow, E110 sunset yellow, E122 azorubine (carmoisine), E124 ponceau 4R and E129 allura red. Since 2010 any EU food containing them must state that the colour “may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children”, following a University of Southampton study on hyperactivity. Most big brands reformulated to avoid the warning; you now find them mainly in cheap sweets, soft drinks, sauces and imported products. Tartrazine can also trigger hives and asthma symptoms in a small number of sensitive people, especially those who react to aspirin.

E171 titanium dioxide. The white pigment in chewing gum, icing and coated tablets. EFSA concluded in 2021 that it could no longer rule out genotoxicity, and it has been banned in EU food since 2022. It remains permitted in the UK and the US, so imported confectionery can still contain it.

E220–E228 sulphites. Preservatives in wine, dried fruit, prawns and sausages. Above 10 mg/kg they must be declared as an allergen because they cause asthma attacks and other reactions in sensitive people. See the sulphites allergen page.

E249–E252 nitrites and nitrates. The curing salts in bacon, ham and salami. They prevent botulism, but in the gut and under high heat they can form nitrosamines, which are linked to bowel cancer. The EU cut the permitted levels in 2023 and the WHO classifies processed meat as carcinogenic largely on this account.

E951 aspartame. Safe at normal intakes according to EFSA and JECFA, but products must warn that they “contain a source of phenylalanine” for people with phenylketonuria. The WHO’s cancer agency listed it as “possibly carcinogenic” in 2023 while leaving the acceptable intake unchanged.

E407 carrageenan. Thickener in plant milks and ice cream with a contested reputation; regulators consider food-grade carrageenan safe, but people with inflammatory bowel disease may want to avoid it. We cover the evidence in Is carrageenan bad for you?.

E621 monosodium glutamate. Blamed for a great deal, proven for very little. EFSA set an intake limit in 2017 because very high doses can cause headaches, but at the levels in food it is regarded as safe.

E420, E421, E965–E967 polyols (sorbitol, mannitol, maltitol, xylitol, erythritol). Harmless but laxative: foods with more than 10% polyols must say “excessive consumption may produce laxative effects”.

E numbers that are not vegan or not allergen-free

A separate reason to read the code is that some additives come from animals, and some carry an allergen:

• E120 cochineal / carmine — red colour made from crushed scale insects. Not vegan, and a documented cause of allergic reactions.
• E441 gelatine — animal collagen; in the EU it is now treated as an ingredient rather than an additive, so you will see the word rather than the number.
• E901 beeswax, E904 shellac (from lac insects), E913 lanolin — glazing agents on sweets, fruit and tablets. Not vegan.
• E966 lactitol — a sweetener made from milk sugar. Vegans avoid it; it contains negligible milk protein.
• E1105 lysozyme — an enzyme from egg white used in some hard cheeses and wine. Must be declared as egg.
• E322 lecithin — usually from soya or sunflower; if from soya it must be declared as an allergen.
• E471 mono- and diglycerides, E470–E483 fatty-acid salts and esters — can be made from either vegetable oil or animal fat, and the label does not say which. The only way to know is to ask the manufacturer.
• E631, E627, E635 flavour enhancers — sometimes derived from fish or meat.

The ones you can stop worrying about

Most of the list is mundane. E300 (vitamin C), E101 (vitamin B2), E160a (beta-carotene), E162 (beetroot red), E163 (anthocyanins from grapes and berries), E330 (citric acid), E406 (agar), E410 and E412 (locust bean and guar gum, both from beans), E440 (pectin from apples), E500 (bicarbonate of soda) and E1400-series modified starches are either nutrients, plant extracts or things you already have in your kitchen. A long ingredient list is not a sign of danger, just of processing.

Reading them without a reference card

Nobody remembers three hundred codes. Our additives directory has a page for each common E number — what it is, where it is used, what the regulators found — and you can search it by number or name. If you scan a product with Allervibe, the app lists the additives it finds by name alongside the allergen check, so “E122” on a packet of sweets becomes “azorubine — colour, carries the children’s activity warning” without you looking anything up.