What is an E-number, is it dangerous?
Short answer
An E-number is a coded number showing that a food additive has been assessed and approved by the EU (e.g. E330 citric acid). The 'E' does not mean danger; it marks that the additive is regulated and permitted. Most E-numbers are harmless; some are debated, and very few are restricted or banned in the EU.
What does E mean?
'E' stands for Europe and shows that the additive has been assessed in the EU food-safety system and given a number. So an E-number is an 'approval label', not a danger sign. Completely harmless substances like turmeric (E100), vitamin C (E300) and citric acid (E330) also have E-numbers.
What do the code groups mean?
E-numbers are grouped by function: E100s are colors, E200s preservatives, E300s antioxidants/acidity regulators, E400s thickeners/emulsifiers, E600s flavor enhancers, E900s sweeteners and miscellaneous. This grouping lets you roughly guess what a code does when you see it.
They are not all the same
An additive being permitted does not mean 'unlimited and safe in any amount'; most have an acceptable daily intake. Some azo dyes carry a child attention/activity warning label, and titanium dioxide (E171) is banned in food in the EU. So labeling E-numbers wholesale 'good' or 'bad' is wrong; each is assessed individually.
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Start scanningFrequently asked
Can an E-number be natural?
Yes. E100 comes from turmeric, E160a from carrots, E300 is vitamin C. Having an E-number does not mean the substance is synthetic.
Which E-numbers should I watch?
Azo dyes (E102, E110, E122, E124, E129), titanium dioxide (E171), some preservatives and artificial sweeteners are more debated. You can see what each code is and why it is flagged in our library.
Is an additive-free product healthier?
Not necessarily. Less-processed products have fewer additives, but 'additive-free' does not automatically mean 'healthy'; sugar, salt and fat have no E-numbers either, yet excess is harmful.
This page is for general information; it is not a substitute for medical/dietary advice. Personal suitability varies by skin type, allergies and health status.