It is extremely wise to avoid eating food with harmful food additives - E Numbers in them. Not all E Numbers are bad for you. The following list is based on information from the Ministries of Health of the United States, France, UK, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Russia & Italy.
E-Number
| Name
| Category
| Side Effects
|
E100
| Curcumin
| Colour - Yellow and Orange
| Safe
|
E101
| Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)
| Colour - Yellow and Orange
| Safe
|
E102
| Tartrazine
| Colour - Yellow and Orange
| Forbidden in some parts of the western world!
May increase hyperactivity in affected children. Asthmatics sometimes react badly. Take care if you are sensitive to Aspirin.
|
E103
| alkanet, alkannin
| Colour - Yellow and Orange
| Forbidden in some parts of the western world!
May increase hyperactivity in affected children. Asthmatics sometimes react badly. Take care if you are sensitive to Aspirin.
|
E104
| Quinoline Yellow
| Colour - Yellow and Orange
| May increase hyperactivity in affected children.
|
E110
| Sunset Yellow FCF / Orange Yellow S
| Colour - Yellow and Orange
| May increase hyperactivity in affected children. Take care if you are sensitive to Aspirin.
|
E120
| Cochineal / Carminic Acid
| Colour - Red
| Same as E104
|
E122
| Carmoisine / Azorubine
| Colour - Red
| May increase hyperactivity in affected children. Asthmatics sometimes react badly. Take care if you are sensitive to Aspirin.
|
E123
| Amaranth
| Colour - Red
| Very Dangerous
May increase hyperactivity in affected children. Take care if you are sensitive to Aspirin.
|
E124
| Ponceau 4R / Cochineal Red A
| Colour - Red
| May increase hyperactivity in affected children. Asthmatics sometimes react badly. Take care if you are sensitive to Aspirin.
|
E127
| Erythrosine BS
| Colour - Red
| Same as E104
|
E131
| Patent Blue V
| Colour - Blue
| May increase hyperactivity in affected children. Asthmatics sometimes react badly. Take care if you are sensitive to Aspirin. Be cautious if you suffer from allergies or intolerances.
|
E132
| Indigo Carmine / Idigotine
| Colour - Blue
| Same as E131
|
E140
| Chlorophyll
| Colour - Green
| Safe
|
E141
| Copper Complex of Chlorophyll
| Colour - Green
| Suspicious
|
E142
| Green S / Acid Brilliant Green BS
| Colour - Green
| Cancer
|
E150
| Caramel
| Colour - Brown and Black
| Suspicious
|
E151
| Black PN / Brilliant Black BN
| Colour - Brown and Black
| Same as E104
|
E153
| Carbon Black / Vegetable Carbon (Charcoal)
| Colour - Brown and Black
| May increase hyperactivity in affected children. Be cautious if you suffer from allergies or intolerances.
|
E160a
| Alpha, Beta, Gamma Carotene
| Colour - Carotene derivative
| Safe
|
E160b
| Annatto, Bixin, Norbixin
| Colour - Carotene derivative
|
|
E160c
| Capsanthin / Capsorbin
| Colour - Carotene derivative
|
|
E160d
| Lycopene
| Colour - Carotene derivative
|
|
E160e
| Beta-apo-8-carotenal
| Colour - Carotene derivative
|
|
E160f
| Ethyl ester of Beta-apo-8-cartonoic acid
| Colour - Carotene derivative
|
|
E161a
| Flavoxanthin
| Colour - Plant
| Safe??
|
E161b
| Lutein
| Colour - Plant
|
|
E161c
| Cryptoxanthin
| Colour - Plant
|
|
E161d
| Rubixanthin
| Colour - Plant
|
|
E161e
| Violaxanthin
| Colour - Plant
|
|
E161f
| Rhodoxanthin
| Colour - Plant
|
|
E161g
| Canthaxanthin
| Colour - Plant
|
|
E162
| Beetroot Red / Betanin
| Colour - Plant
|
|
E163
| Anthocyanins
| Colour - Plant
|
|
E170
| Calcium Carbonate (Chalk)
| Colour - Inorganic
| Safe
|
E171
| Titanium Dioxide
| Colour - Inorganic
|
|
E172
| Iron Oxides and Hydroxides
| Colour - Inorganic
|
|
E173
| Aluminium
| Colour - Inorganic
|
|
E174
| Silver
| Colour - Inorganic
|
|
E175
| Gold
| Colour - Inorganic
| Safe??
|
E180
| Pigment Rubine / Lithol Rubine BK
| Colour - Inorganic
|
|
PRESERVATIVES
|
|
|
|
|
E200
| Sorbic Acid
| Preservative - Sorbic Acid and its salts
| Headaches Intestine Upset
|
E201
| Soduim Sorbate
| Preservative - Sorbic Acid and its salts
| Same as E200
|
E202
| Potassium Sorbate
| Preservative - Sorbic Acid and its salts
| Same as E200
|
E203
| Calcium Sorbate
| Preservative - Sorbic Acid and its salts
| Same as E200
|
|
E210
| Benzoic Acid
| Preservative - Benzoic Acid and its salts.
Often added to milk products (cheese) and meat products.
| Headaches Intestine Upset
May increase hyperactivity in affected children. Asthmatics sometimes react badly. Be cautious if you suffer from allergies or intolerances.
|
E211
| Sodium Benzoate
| Preservative - Benzoic Acid and its salts
| Same as E210
|
E212
| Potassium Benzoate
| Preservative - Benzoic Acid and its salts
| Same as E210
|
E213
| Calcium Benzoate
| Preservative - Benzoic Acid and its salts
| Same as E210
|
E214
| Ethyl 4-hydroxybenzoate
| Preservative - Benzoic Acid and its salts
| Same as E210
|
E215
| Ethyl 4-hydroxybenzoate, Sodium Salt
| Preservative - Benzoic Acid and its salts
| Same as E210
|
E216
| Propyl 4-hydroxybenzoate
| Preservative - Benzoic Acid and its salts
| Same as E210
|
E217
| Propyl 4-hydroxybenzoate, Sodium Salt
| Preservative - Benzoic Acid and its salts
| Same as E210
|
E218
| Methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate
| Preservative - Benzoic Acid and its salts
| Same as E210
|
E219
| Methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate, Sodium Salt
| Preservative - Benzoic Acid and its salts
| Same as E210
|
|
E220
| Sulphur Dioxide
| Preservative - Sulphur Dioxide and its salts
Often added to milk products (cheese) and meat products.
| Headaches Intestine Upset Skin Disorders Destroys Vitamin B12
|
E221
| Sodium Sulphite
| Preservative - Sulphur Dioxide and its salts
| Same as E220
|
E222
| Sodium Hydrogen Sulphite
| Preservative - Sulphur Dioxide and its salts
| Same as E220
|
E223
| Sodium Metabisulphite
| Preservative - Sulphur Dioxide and its salts
| Same as E220
|
E224
| Potassium Metabisulphite
| Preservative - Sulphur Dioxide and its salts
| Same as E220
|
E226
| Calcium Sulphite
| Preservative - Sulphur Dioxide and its salts
| Same as E220
|
E227
| Calcium Hydrogen Sulphite
| Preservative - Sulphur Dioxide and its salts
| Same as E220
|
|
E230
| Biphenyl / Diphenyl
| Preservative - Biphenyl and its derivatives
| Headaches Intestine Upset Skin Disorders
|
E231
| 2-Hydroxybiphenyl
| Preservative - Biphenyl and its derivatives
| Same as E230
|
E232
| Sodium Biphenyl-2-yl Oxide
| Preservative - Biphenyl and its derivatives
| Same as E230
|
E233
| 2-(Thiazol-4-yl) Benzimidazole
| Preservative - other
| Same as E230
|
E239
| Hexamine
| Preservative - other
| Same as E230
|
|
E249
| Potassium Nitrate
| Preservative - Pickling Salts
| Same as E230
|
E250
| Sodium Nitrite
| Preservative - Pickling Salts
| Same as E230
|
E251
| Sodium Nitrate
| Preservative - Pickling Salts
| Same as E230
|
E252
| Potassium Nitrate(Saltpetre)
| Preservative - Pickling Salts
| Same as E230
|
|
E260
| Acetic Acid
| Miscellaneous - Acids and their Salts
| Headaches Intestine Upset Skin Disorders
|
E261
| Potassium Acetate
| Miscellaneous - Acids and their Salts
| Headaches Intestine Upset Skin Disorders
|
E262
| Potassium Hydrogen Diacetate
| Miscellaneous - Acids and their Salts
| Headaches Intestine Upset Skin Disorders
|
E263
| Calcium Acetate
| Miscellaneous - Acids and their Salts
|
|
E270
| Lactic Acid
| Miscellaneous - Acids and their Salts
|
|
E280
| Propionic Acid
| Preservative - Acids and their Salts
|
|
E281
| Sodium Propionate
| Preservative- Acids and their Salts
|
|
E282
| Calcium Propionate
| Preservative- Acids and their Salts
|
|
E283
| Potassuim Propionate
| Preservative- Acids and their Salts
|
|
E290
| Carbon Dioxide
| Miscellaneous - Acids and their Salts
| Intestine Upset
|
E300
| L-Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C)
| Antioxidants- Vitamin C and derivatives
| Safe
|
E301
| Sodium-L-Ascorbate
| Antioxidants- Vitamin C and derivatives
| Safe
|
E302
| Calcium-L-Ascorbate
| Antioxidants- Vitamin C and derivatives
| Safe
|
E304
| Ascorbyl Palmitate
| Antioxidants- Vitamin C and derivatives
| Safe
|
E306
| Natural Extracts rich in Tocopherols
| Antioxidants- Vitamin E
| Safe
|
E307
| Synthetic Alpha-Tocopherol
| Antioxidants- Vitamin E
| Safe
|
E308
| Synthetic Gamma-Tocopherol
| Antioxidants- Vitamin E
| Safe
|
E309
| Synthetic Delta-Tocopherol
| Antioxidants- Vitamin E
| Safe
|
E310
| Propyl Gallate
| Antioxidants- other
|
|
E311
| Octyl Gallate
| Antioxidants- other
|
|
E312
| Dodecyl Gallate
| Antioxidants- other
|
|
E320
| Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA)
| Antioxidants- other
| May increase hyperactivity in affected children. Asthmatics sometimes react badly. Be cautious if you suffer from allergies or intolerances. May not be suitable for babies
|
E321
| Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT)
| Antioxidants- other
| Same as E320
|
E322
| Lecithins
| Emulsifiers and Stabilisers
|
|
E325
| Sodium Lactate
| Miscellaneous - Salts of Lactic Acid
|
|
E326
| Potassium Lactate
| Miscellaneous - Salts of Lactic Acid
|
|
E327
| Calcium Lactate
| Miscellaneous - Salts of Lactic Acid
|
|
E330
| Citric Acid
| Miscellaneous - Citric Acid and its Salts
| Intestine Upset
|
E331
| Sodium Citrates
| Miscellaneous - Citric Acid and its Salts
|
|
E332
| Potassium Citrates
| Miscellaneous - Citric Acid and its Salts
|
|
E333
| Calcium Citrates
| Miscellaneous - Citric Acid and its Salts
|
|
E334
| Tartaric Acid
| Miscellaneous - Tartaric Acid and its Salts
| Intestine Upset
|
E335
| Sodium Tartrate
| Miscellaneous - Tartaric Acid and its Salts
|
|
E336
| Potassium Tartrate (Cream of Tartar)
| Miscellaneous - Tartaric Acid and its Salts
|
|
E337
| Potassium Sodium Tartrate
| Miscellaneous - Tartaric Acid and its Salts
|
|
E338
| Orthophosphoric Acid
| Miscellaneous - Phosphoric Acid and its Salts
|
|
E339
| Sodium Phosphates
| Miscellaneous - Phosphoric Acid and its Salts
|
|
E340
| Potassium Phosphates
| Miscellaneous - Phosphoric Acid and its Salts
|
|
E341
| Calcium Phosphates
| Miscellaneous - Phosphoric Acid and its Salts
|
|
E400
| Alginic Acid
| Emulsifiers and Stabilisers - Alginates
|
|
E401
| Sodium Alginate
| Emulsifiers and Stabilisers - Alginates
| Safe
|
E402
| Potassium Alginate
| Emulsifiers and Stabilisers - Alginates
| Safe
|
E403
| Ammonium Alginate
| Emulsifiers and Stabilisers - Alginates
| Safe
|
E404
| Calcium Alginate
| Emulsifiers and Stabilisers - Alginates
|
|
E405
| Propane-1, 2-Diol Alginate
| Emulsifiers and Stabilisers - Alginates
|
|
E406
| Agar
| Emulsifiers and Stabilisers - other plant gums
| Safe
|
E407
| Carrageenan
| Emulsifiers and Stabilisers - other plant gums
| Safe
|
E410
| Locust Bean Gum (Carob Gum)
| Emulsifiers and Stabilisers - other plant gums
|
|
E412
| Guar Gum
| Emulsifiers and Stabilisers - other plant gums
| Safe
|
E413
| Tragacanth
| Emulsifiers and Stabilisers - other plant gums
| Be cautious if you suffer from allergies or intolerances.
|
E414
| Gum Acacia (Gum Arabic)
| Emulsifiers and Stabilisers - other plant gums
| Safe?
|
E415
| Xanthan Gum
| Emulsifiers and Stabilisers - other plant gums
| Safe?
|
E420
| Sorbitol
| Sugar Alcohols
|
|
E421
| Mannitol
| Sugar Alcohols
|
|
E422
| Glycerol
| Sugar Alcohols
|
|
E440a
| Pectin
| Emulsifiers and Stabilisers - Pectin and derivatives
|
|
E440b
| Amidated Pectin
| Emulsifiers and Stabilisers - Pectin and derivatives
|
|
E450a, b, c
| Sodium and Potassium Phosphates and Polyphosphates
| Miscellaneous
|
|
E460
| Microcrystalline / Powdered Cellulose
| Emulsifiers and Stabilisers - Cellulose and derivatives
|
|
E461
| Methylcellulose
| Emulsifiers and Stabilisers - Cellulose and derivatives
|
|
E463
| Hydroxypropylcellulose
| Emulsifiers and Stabilisers - Cellulose and derivatives
|
|
E464
| Hydroxypropyl-Methylcellulose
| Emulsifiers and Stabilisers - Cellulose and derivatives
|
|
E465
| Ethylmethylcellulose
| Emulsifiers and Stabilisers - Cellulose and derivatives
|
|
E466
| Carboxymethylcellulose, Sodium Salt
| Emulsifiers and Stabilisers - Cellulose and derivatives
|
|
E470
| Sodium, Potassium and Calcium Salts of Fatty Acids
| Emulsifiers and Stabilisers - salts or Esters of Fatty Acids
|
|
E471
| Mono-and Diglycerides of Fatty Acids
| Emulsifiers and Stabilisers - salts or Esters of Fatty Acids
|
|
E472
| Various Esters of Mono-and Diglycerides of Fatty Acids
| Emulsifiers and Stabilisers - salts or Esters of Fatty Acids
|
|
E473
| Sucrose Esters of Fatty Acids
| Emulsifiers and Stabilisers - salts or Esters of Fatty Acids
|
|
E474
| Sucroglycerides
| Emulsifiers and Stabilisers - salts or Esters of Fatty Acids
|
|
E475
| Polyglycerol Esters of Fatty Acids
| Emulsifiers and Stabilisers - salts or Esters of Fatty Acids
|
|
E477
| Propane-1, 2-Diol Esters of Fatty Acids
| Emulsifiers and Stabilisers - salts or Esters of Fatty Acids
|
|
E481
| Sodium Stearoyl-2-Lactylate
| Emulsifiers and Stabilisers - salts or Esters of Fatty Acids
|
|
E482
| Calcium Stearoyl-2-Lactylate
| Emulsifiers and Stabilisers - salts or Esters of Fatty Acids
|
|
E483
| Stearyl Tartrate
| Emulsifiers and Stabilisers - salts or Esters of Fatty Acids
|
|