Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Food Additives
Food Additives
Food additives are substances added to food to preserve flavor or enhance its taste and appearance.
Some additives have been used for centuries; for example, preserving food by pickling (with vinegar),
salting, as with bacon, preserving sweets or using sulfur dioxide as with wines. Caffeine and other
GRAS (generally recognized as safe) additives such as sugar and salt are not required to go through
the regulation process.
Categories
Acids
Food acids are added to make flavors "sharper", and also act as preservatives and antioxidants.
Common food acids include vinegar, citric acid, tartaric acid, malic acid, fumaric acid, and lactic acid.
Acidity regulators
Acidity regulators are used to change or otherwise control the acidity and alkalinity of foods.
Anticaking agents
Anticaking agents keep powders such as milk powder from caking or sticking.
Antifoaming agents
Antifoaming agents reduce or prevent foaming in foods.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants such as vitamin C act as preservatives by inhibiting the effects of oxygen on food, and
can be beneficial to health.
Bulking agents
Bulking agents such as starch are additives that increase the bulk of a food without affecting its
taste.
Food coloring
Colorings are added to food to replace colors lost during preparation, or to make food look more
attractive.
Color retention agents
In contrast to colorings, color retention agents are used to preserve a food's existing color.
Emulsifiers
Emulsifiers allow water and oils to remain mixed together in an emulsion, as in mayonnaise, ice
cream, and homogenized milk.
Flavors
Flavors are additives that give food a particular taste or smell, and may be derived from natural
ingredients or created artificially.
Flavor enhancers
Flavor enhancers enhance a food's existing flavors. They may be extracted from natural sources
(through distillation, solvent extraction, maceration, among other methods) or created artificially.
Flour treatment agents
Flour treatment agents are added to flour to improve its color or its use in baking.
Glazing agents
Glazing agents provide a shiny appearance or protective coating to foods.
Humectants
Humectants prevent foods from drying out.
Tracer gas
Tracer gas allow for package integrity testing to prevent foods from being exposed to atmosphere,
thus guaranteeing shelf life.
Preservatives
Preservatives prevent or inhibit spoilage of food due to fungi, bacteria and other microorganisms.
Stabilizers
Stabilizers, thickeners and gelling agents, like agar or pectin (used in jam for example) give foods a
firmer texture. While they are not true emulsifiers, they help to stabilize emulsions.
Sweeteners
Sweeteners are added to foods for flavoring. Sweeteners other than sugar are added to keep the
food energy (calories) low, or because they have beneficial effects for diabetes mellitus and tooth
decay and diarrhea.
Thickeners
Thickening agents are substances which, when added to the mixture, increase its viscosity without
substantially modifying its other properties.
E100E199 (colours)
Code
Name(s)
Colour
Status
E100
Yellow-orange
E101
E101a
Riboflavin-5'-Phosphate
Yellow-orange
Code
Name(s)
Colour
Status
E102
Lemon yellow
E103
Alkannin[11]
Red-brown
E104
Quinoline Yellow WS
Dull or
yellow
E105
Fast Yellow AB
Yellow
E106
Riboflavin-5-Sodium Phosphate
Yellow
E107
Yellow 2G
Yellow
greenish
E110
E111
Orange GGN
E120
Cochineal, Carminic
(Natural Red 4)
E121
E122
Approved
in
the
EU.[9]
Undergoing a voluntary phaseout in the UK.[citation needed]
Orange
acid,
Citrus Red 2
Carmoisine (azorubine)
Carmine
Crimson
Dark red
Red to maroon
Approved
in
the
EU.[9]
Undergoing a voluntary phaseout in the UK. Currently banned
in Canada, Japan, Norway, USA .
[citation
needed]
EU
currently
evaluating health risks.[citation
needed]
Dark red
E123
E124
E125
Red
E126
Ponceau 6R
Red
E127
Red
E128
Red 2G
Red
E129
Red
Code
Name(s)
Colour
Status
needed]
Switzerland[citation
.
Undergoing a voluntary phase
out in the UK. Approved in the
US.[10]
E130
Indanthrene blue RS
Blue
E131
Patent Blue V
Dark blue
E132
E133
Reddish blue
E140
Green
E141
E142
Green S
Green
E143
Sea green
E150a
Plain caramel
Brown
E150b
Brown
E150c
Ammonia caramel
Brown
E150d
Brown
E151
Black
E152
Black
E153
Vegetable carbon
Black
(i)
E154
Brown
E155
Brown
E160a
Alpha-carotene,
Gamma-carotene
E160b
Beta-carotene, Yellow-orange
brown
Orange
to
Code
Name(s)
Colour
Status
E160c
Paprika
capsorubin
Red
E160d
Lycopene
E160e
Beta-apo-8'-carotenal (C 30)
Orange-red
yellow
E160f
E161a
Flavoxanthin
Golden-yellow
brownish
E161b
Lutein
Orange-red
yellow
E161c
Cryptoxanthin
Orange-red
E161d
Rubixanthin
Orange-red
E161e
Violaxanthin
Orange
E161f
Rhodoxanthin
Purple
E161g
Canthaxanthin
Violet
E161h
Zeaxanthin
Orange-red
E161i
Citranaxanthin
Deep violet
E161j
Astaxanthin
Red
E162
Red
E163
Anthocyanins
pH dependent(Red,
green and purple Approved in the EU.[9]
ranges)
E164
Saffron
Orange-red[colour?]
E170
White
E171
Titanium dioxide
White
E172
Brown
E173
Aluminium
Silver to grey
E174
Silver
Silver
E175
Gold
Gold
E180
Red
oleoresin,
Capsanthin,
and
to
Code
Name(s)
Colour
E181
Tannin
Brown
E182
Orcein, Orchil
Purple
Status
E200E299 (preservatives)
Code
Name(s)
Purpose
Status
E200
Sorbic acid
preservative
E201
Sodium sorbate
preservative
E202
Potassium sorbate
preservative
E203
Calcium sorbate
preservative
E209
Heptyl p-hydroxybenzoate
preservative
E210
Benzoic acid
preservative
E211
Sodium benzoate
preservative
E212
Potassium benzoate
preservative
E213
Calcium benzoate
preservative
E214
Ethylparaben
hydroxybenzoate)
preservative
E215
preservative
E216
Propylparaben
hydroxybenzoate)
preservative
E217
preservative
E218
Methylparaben
hydroxybenzoate)
preservative
E219
preservative
E220
Sulphur dioxide
preservative
E221
Sodium sulphite
preservative
E222
E223
Sodium metabisulphite
preservative
E224
Potassium metabisulphite
preservative
E225
Potassium sulphite
preservative
E226
Calcium sulphite
preservative
E227
Calcium
hydrogen
(preservative)
firming agent
(ethyl
(propyl
(methyl
para-
para-
para-
sulphite
Code
Name(s)
Purpose
Status
E228
preservative
E230
Biphenyl, diphenyl
preservative
E231
Orthophenyl phenol
preservative
E232
preservative
E233
Thiabendazole
preservative
E234
Nisin
preservative
E235
Natamycin, Pimaracin
preservative
E236
Formic acid
preservative
E237
Sodium formate
preservative
E238
Calcium formate
preservative
E239
preservative
E240
Formaldehyde
preservative
E242
Dimethyl dicarbonate
preservative
E249
Potassium nitrite
preservative
E250
Sodium nitrite
preservative
E251
preservative
E252
preservative
E260
acidity regulator
E261
acidity regulator
E262
E263
acidity regulator
E264
Ammonium acetate
preservative
E265
Dehydroacetic acid
preservative
E266
Sodium dehydroacetate
preservative
E270
antioxidant
E280
Propionic acid
preservative
E281
Sodium propionate
preservative
E282
Calcium propionate
preservative
E283
Potassium propionate
preservative
E284
Boric acid
preservative
E285
preservative
Code
Name(s)
Purpose
Status
E290
Carbon dioxide
acidity regulator
E296
acidity regulator
E297
Fumaric acid
acidity regulator
Name(s)
Purpose
Status
E300
antioxidant
E301
Sodium ascorbate
antioxidant
E302
Calcium ascorbate
antioxidant
E303
Potassium ascorbate
antioxidant
E304
E305
Ascorbyl stearate
antioxidant
E306
Tocopherols (natural)
antioxidant
E307
Alpha-tocopherol (synthetic)
antioxidant
E308
Gamma-tocopherol (synthetic)
antioxidant
E309
Delta-tocopherol (synthetic)
antioxidant
E310
Propyl gallate
antioxidant
E311
Octyl gallate
antioxidant
E312
Dodecyl gallate
antioxidant
E313
Ethyl gallate
antioxidant
E314
Guaiac resin
antioxidant
E315
Erythorbic acid
antioxidant
E316
Sodium erythorbate
antioxidant
E317
Erythorbin acid
antioxidant
E318
Sodium erythorbin
antioxidant
E319
tert-Butylhydroquinone (TBHQ)
antioxidant
E320
antioxidant
E321
antioxidant
E322
Lecithin
emulsifier
E323
Anoxomer
antioxidant
E324
Ethoxyquin
antioxidant
ascorbic
acid
antioxidant
Code
Name(s)
Purpose
Status
E325
Sodium lactate
acidity regulator
E326
acidity regulator
E327
Calcium lactate
acidity regulator
E328
Ammonium lactate
acidity regulator
E329
Magnesium lactate
acidity regulator
E330
Citric acid
acid,
regulator
E331
E332
E333
E334
E335
Sodium
tartrates
(i)
Monosodium
acidity regulator
tartrate (ii), Disodium tartrate
E336
E337
acidity regulator
E338
Orthophosphoric acid
acid
E339
E340
Potassium
phosphates
Monopotassium
phosphate
Dipotassium
phosphate
Tripotassium phosphate
E341
E342
Ammonium
phosphates:
monoammonium
phosphate
diammonium phosphate
(i)
(ii)
E343
Magnesium
phosphates
acidity
(acid)
(i)
(ii)
antioxidant
(iii)
Approved
in
the
EU.[18]
This
Code
Name(s)
monomagnesium
phosphate
Dimagnesium phosphate
Purpose
Status
additive is under discussion and
may be included in a future
amendment to the Directive on
miscellaneous additives.
(ii)
E344
Lecitin citrate
acidity regulator
E345
Magnesium citrate
acidity regulator
E349
Ammonium malate
acidity regulator
E350
E351
Potassium malate
acidity regulator
E352
E353
Metatartaric acid
emulsifier
E354
Calcium tartrate
emulsifier
E355
Adipic acid
acidity regulator
E356
Sodium adipate
acidity regulator
E357
Potassium adipate
acidity regulator
E359
Ammonium adipate
acidity regulator
E363
Succinic acid
acidity regulator
E365
Sodium fumarate
acidity regulator
E366
Potassium fumarate
acidity regulator
E367
Calcium fumarate
acidity regulator
E368
Ammonium fumarate
acidity regulator
E370
1,4-Heptonolactone
acidity regulator
E380
Triammonium citrate
acidity regulator
E381
acidity regulator
E383
Calcium glycerylphosphate
acidity regulator
E384
Isopropyl citrate
acidity regulator
E385
E386
E387
Oxystearin
E388
Thiodipropionic acid
stabiliser
Code
Name(s)
Purpose
E389
Dilauryl thiodipropionate
E390
Distearyl thiodipropionate
E391
Phytic acid
E392
Extracts of rosemary
E399
Calcium lactobionate
Status
Approved in 2010[21]
Name(s)
Purpose
Status
E400
emulsifier
E401
E402
Potassium
alginate
(stabiliser) (gelling agent)
(thickener)
emulsifier
E403
Ammonium
(stabiliser)
(thickener)
emulsifier
E404
E405
E406
stabiliser
E407
Carrageenan
(thickener)
(gelling agent)
emulsifier
E407a
Processed
eucheuma
seaweed
emulsifier
(thickener) (stabiliser) (gelling agent)
E408
E409
Arabinogalactan
E410
Locust
bean
gum
(Carob
gum)
emulsifier
(thickener) (stabiliser) (gelling agent)
E411
stabiliser
E412
stabiliser
E413
emulsifier
E414
E415
stabiliser
E416
emulsifier
alginate
(stabiliser)
(stabiliser)
Code
Name(s)
Purpose
Status
E417
stabiliser
E418
emulsifier
E419
emulsifier
E420
E421
sweetener
E422
Glycerol (emulsifier)
sweetener
E424
Curdlan
E425
emulsifier
E426
Soybean hemicellulose
E427
Cassia gum
Approved in 2010[21]
E429
Peptones
E430
E431
E432
Polyoxyethene
(20)
monolaurate (polysorbate 20)
sorbitan
E433
Polyoxyethene
(20)
monooleate (polysorbate 80)
sorbitan
gum
(ii)
Konjac
emulsifier
emulsifier
emulsifier
E434
Polyoxyethene
(20)
sorbitan
emulsifier
monopalmitate (polysorbate 40)
E435
Polyoxyethene
(20)
sorbitan
emulsifier
monostearate (polysorbate 60)
E436
E440
emulsifier
E441
Gelatine (emulsifier)
gelling agent
E442
Ammonium phosphatides
emulsifier
E443
emulsifier
E444
emulsifier
E445
emulsifier
E446
Succistearin
Code
Name(s)
Purpose
E450
E451
E452
Polyphosphates
polyphosphates
polyphosphates
polyphosphate
polyphosphates
polyphosphate
E459
Beta-cyclodextrin
emulsifier
E460
E461
Methyl cellulose
emulsifier
E462
Ethyl cellulose
emulsifier
E463
Hydroxypropyl cellulose
emulsifier
E464
Hypromellose
methylcellulose)
emulsifier
E465
emulsifier
E466
Carboxymethyl
cellulose,
carboxy methyl cellulose
emulsifier
E467
(i)
Sodium
(ii)
Potassium
(iii) Sodium calcium
emulsifier
(iv)
Calcium
(v)
Ammonium
(hydroxypropyl
Sodium
Status
E468
Crosslinked
sodium
carboxymethyl
emulsifier
cellulose (Croscarmellose)
E469
Enzymically
carboxymethylcellulose
E470a
E470b
Magnesium
salts
of
hydrolysed
fatty
emulsifier
Code
Name(s)
Purpose
Status
(emulsifier)
E471
E472a
mono-
and
emulsifier
E472b
mono-
and
emulsifier
E472c
mono-
and
emulsifier
E472d
mono-
and
emulsifier
E472e
E472f
E472g
Succinylated monoglycerides
emulsifier
E473
emulsifier
E474
Sucroglycerides
emulsifier
E475
emulsifier
E476
Polyglycerol polyricinoleate
emulsifier
E477
E478
E479b
E480
emulsifier
E481
Sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate
emulsifier
E482
Calcium stearoyl-2-lactylate
emulsifier
E483
Stearyl tartrate
emulsifier
E484
Stearyl citrate
emulsifier
E485
emulsifier
E486
emulsifier
Code
Name(s)
Purpose
Status
E487
Sodium laurylsulphate
emulsifier
E488
emulsifier
E489
emulsifier
E490
Propane-1,2-diol
E491
Sorbitan monostearate
emulsifier
E492
Sorbitan tristearate
emulsifier
E493
Sorbitan monolaurate
emulsifier
E494
Sorbitan monooleate
emulsifier
E495
Sorbitan monopalmitate
emulsifier
E496
Sorbitan trioleate
emulsifier
E497
Polyoxypropylene-polyoxyethylene
polymers
E498
Partial
polyglycerol
esters
of
polycondensed fatty acids of castor oil
Name(s)
Purpose
Status
E500
Sodium
carbonates
(i)
Sodium
carbonate (ii) Sodium bicarbonate
(Sodium hydrogen carbonate) (iii) raising agent
Sodium
sesquicarbonate
(acidity
regulator)
E501
E503
E504
E505
Ferrous carbonate
acidity regulator
E507
Hydrochloric acid
acid
E508
seasoning
E509
firming agent
E510
Code
Name(s)
Purpose
Status
(acidity regulator)
E511
Magnesium chloride
firming agent
E512
Stannous chloride
antioxidant
E513
Sulphuric acid
acid
E514
E515
Potassium Sulphates
Sulphate (ii)
E516
Calcium sulphate
E517
Ammonium sulphate
E518
Magnesium sulphate
(acidity regulator)
E519
Copper(II) sulphate
preservative
E520
Aluminium sulphate
firming agent
E521
firming agent
E522
acidity regulator
E523
acidity regulator
E524
Sodium hydroxide
acidity regulator
E525
Potassium hydroxide
acidity regulator
E526
firming agent
E527
Ammonium hydroxide
acidity regulator
E528
Magnesium hydroxide
acidity regulator
E529
improving agent
E530
anti-caking agent
E535
E536
Potassium ferrocyanide
anti-caking agent
E537
Ferrous hexacyanomanganate
anti-caking agent
E538
Calcium ferrocyanide
anti-caking agent
E539
Sodium thiosulphate
antioxidant
E540
Dicalcium
regulator)
E541
(i)
Potassium
diphosphate
salts),
(acidity
firming agent
emulsifier
Approved in the EU.[18]
Code
Name(s)
Purpose
E542
E543
emulsifier
E544
Calcium polyphosphate
emulsifier
E545
Ammonium polyphosphate
emulsifier
E550
E551
anti-caking agent
E552
Calcium silicate
anti-caking agent
E553a
E553b
Talc
anti-caking agent
E554
Sodium
aluminosilicate
aluminium silicate)
anti-caking agent
E555
anti-caking agent
E556
Calcium
aluminosilicate
aluminium silicate)
anti-caking agent
E557
Zinc silicate
anti-caking agent
E558
Bentonite
anti-caking agent
E559
anti-caking agent
E560
Potassium silicate
anti-caking agent
E561
Vermiculite
E562
Sepiolite
E563
Sepiolitic clay
E565
Lignosulphonates
E566
Natrolite-phonolite
E570
Fatty acids
E572
E574
Gluconic acid
E575
Glucono
regulator)
E576
E577
(sodium
(calcium
anti-caking agent
Status
acidity regulator
sequestrant
Sodium gluconate
sequestrant
Potassium gluconate
sequestrant
delta-lactone
(acidity
Code
Name(s)
Purpose
Status
E578
Calcium gluconate
firming agent
E579
Ferrous gluconate
food colouring
E580
Magnesium gluconate
E585
Ferrous lactate
food colouring
E586
4-Hexylresorcinol
antioxidant
E598
E599
Perlite
Name(s)
Purpose
Status
E620
Glutamic acid
flavour enhancer
E621
flavour enhancer
E622
Monopotassium glutamate
flavour enhancer
E623
Calcium diglutamate
flavour enhancer
E624
Monoammonium glutamate
flavour enhancer
E625
Magnesium diglutamate
flavour enhancer
E626
Guanylic acid
flavour enhancer
E627
E628
Dipotassium guanylate
flavour enhancer
E629
Calcium guanylate
flavour enhancer
E630
Inosinic acid
flavour enhancer
E631
Disodium inosinate
flavour enhancer
E632
Dipotassium inosinate
flavour enhancer
E633
Calcium inosinate
flavour enhancer
E634
Calcium 5'-ribonucleotides
flavour enhancer
E635
Disodium 5'-ribonucleotides
flavour enhancer
E640
flavour enhancer
E650
Zinc acetate
flavour enhancer
Status
E700E799 (antibiotics)
Code
Name(s)
Purpose
E701
Tetracyclines
antibiotic
E702
Chlortetracycline
antibiotic
Code
Name(s)
Purpose
E703
Oxytetracycline
antibiotic
E704
Oleandomycin
antibiotic
E705
Penicillin G potassium
antibiotic
E706
Penicillin G sodium
antibiotic
E707
Penicillin G procaine
antibiotic
E708
Penicillin G benzathine
antibiotic
E710
Spiramycins
antibiotic
E711
Virginiamycins
antibiotic
E712
Flavomycin
antibiotic
E713
Tylosin
antibiotic
E714
Monensin A
antibiotic
E715
Avoparcin
antibiotic
E716
Salinomycin
antibiotic
E717
Avilamycin
antibiotic
Status
Name(s)
Purpose
Status
E900
Dimethyl
agent)
anti-caking agent
E901
glazing agent
E902
Candelilla wax
glazing agent
E903
Carnauba wax
glazing agent
E904
Shellac
glazing agent
E905
Paraffins
E905a
Mineral oil
E905b
Petrolatum
E905c
E906
Gum benzoic
flavour enhancer
E907
Crystalline wax
glazing agent
E908
glazing agent
E909
Spermaceti wax
glazing agent
E910
Wax esters
glazing agent
polysiloxane
(anti-foaming
Code
Name(s)
Purpose
E911
glazing agent
E912
Montanic
esters
E913
E914
E915
Esters of colophony
E916
Calcium iodate
E917
Potassium iodate
E918
Nitrogen oxides
E919
Nitrosyl chloride
E920
L-cysteine
improving agent
E921
L-cystine
improving agent
E922
Potassium persulphate
improving agent
E923
Ammonium persulphate
improving agent
E924
Potassium bromate
improving agent
E924b
Calcium bromate
improving agent
E925
Chlorine
preservative,
bleach, improving
agent
E926
bleach
E927a
Azodicarbonamide
improving agent
E927b
Carbamide (urea)
improving agent
E928
bleach
E929
Acetone peroxide
E930
bleach
E938
Argon
packaging gas
E939
Helium
packaging gas
E940
Dichlorodifluoromethane
packaging gas
Rarely used
E941
propellant
E942
Nitrous oxide
propellant
E943a
Butane
propellant
E943b
Isobutane
propellant
acid
esters,
Montan
acid
glazing agent
Status
glazing agent
Approved in the EU.[18]
glazing agent
Code
Name(s)
Purpose
Status
E944
Propane
propellant
E945
Chloropentafluoroethane
propellant
E946
Octafluorocyclobutane
propellant
E948
Oxygen
packaging gas
E949
Hydrogen
packaging gas
E950
Acesulfame potassium
sweetener
E951
Aspartame
sweetener
E952
E953
Isomalt, Isomaltitol
sweetener
E954
E955
Sucralose (Trichlorogalactosucrose)
sweetener
E956
Alitame
sweetener
E957
Thaumatin (sweetener)
flavour enhancer
E958
Glycyrrhizin (sweetener)
flavour enhancer
E959
Neohesperidine
(sweetener)
flavour enhancer
E960
Steviol glycosides
sweetener
E961
Neotame
sweetener
Approved in 2010[21]
E962
E965
E966
Lactitol
sweetener
E967
Xylitol
sweetener
E968
Erythritol
sweetener
E999
Quillaia extract
foaming agent
dihydrochalcone
Name(s)
Purpose
E1000
Cholic acid
emulsifier
E1001
Choline salts
emulsifier
E1100
Amylase
stabiliser,
enhancer
Status
flavour
Code
Name(s)
Purpose
E1101
Proteases
((i)Protease,
(iii)Bromelain, (iv)Ficin)
E1102
Glucose oxidase
antioxidant
E1103
Invertase
stabiliser
E1104
Lipases
E1105
Lysozyme
preservative
E1200
Polydextrose
stabiliser,
thickening
agent, Approved in the EU.[18]
humectant, carrier
E1201
Polyvinylpyrrolidone
stabiliser
E1202
Polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (carrier)
stabiliser
E1203
Polyvinyl alcohol
Approved in 2010[21]
E1204
Pullulan
E1400
E1401
E1402
thickening agent
E1403
thickening agent
E1404
thickening agent
E1405
E1410
thickening agent
E1411
emulsifier
E1412
E1413
Phosphated
(stabiliser)
distarch
phosphate
thickening agent
E1414
Acetylated
(emulsifier)
distarch
phosphate
thickening agent
E1420
E1421
E1422
(ii)Papain, stabiliser,
enhancer
with
vinyl
Status
flavour
thickening agent
thickening agent
Code
Name(s)
Purpose
E1423
thickening agent
E1430
thickening agent
E1440
thickening agent
E1441
Hydroxy propyl
(stabiliser)
thickening agent
E1442
Hydroxy propyl
(stabiliser)
E1443
E1450
Starch
sodium
octenyl
(emulsifier) (stabiliser)
E1451
E1452
E1501
Benzylated hydrocarbons
E1502
Butane-1, 3-diol
E1503
Castor oil
resolving agent
E1504
Ethyl acetate
flavour solvent
E1505
Triethyl citrate
foam stabiliser
E1510
Ethanol
E1516
Glyceryl monoacetate
flavour solvent
E1517
flavour solvent
E1518
humectant
E1519
Benzyl alcohol
E1520
Propylene glycol
humectant
E1521
E1525
Hydroxyethyl cellulose
distarch
distarch
glycerine
phosphate
succinate
Status
thickening agent
thickening agent
thickening agent
[24]
Approved in 2010[21]
thickening agent