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E-number Lookup

E-number Lookup: What Does an Additive Mean?

E330, E621, E171... Learn in plain language what the E-number on the pack is, what it does and whether it is controversial. Scan the product or search the library. Free and sourced.

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Scan the barcode; all the E-numbers inside and their meanings arrive in seconds.

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Every rating is source-based

How does it work?

  1. 1

    Scan the food

    Point the camera at the barcode or take a photo of the ingredient text. Processing happens on your device; the photo is not sent to a server.

  2. 2

    We recognise the E-numbers

    We recognise every E-number and additive inside from our own database and assess them against reliable sources.

  3. 3

    Get a clear result

    A coloured grade with a plain explanation of what each additive does and whether it is safe or debated.

What do you learn in the lookup?

  • ✓What each E-number is and what it does (colour, preservative, sweetener, thickener...).
  • ✓Which additive is harmless, which is controversial, which is restricted or banned in the EU.
  • ✓Standout substances like azo dyes (child-warning labelled) and titanium dioxide (E171) are flagged separately.
  • ✓Every assessment relies on a source (EFSA, IARC, EU); you can open the 'what it is, what to do' detail.

Example result

Drink / Snack

Consume with care
Citric acid (E330): safe, naturally sourced
MSG (E621): flavour enhancer, debated
Titanium dioxide (E171): banned in food in the EU

Looking for a specific code?

You can look up an E-number in our library without scanning: type the code or name (e.g. e330, aspartame) and see what it is and why it is flagged.

Go deeper

Search thousands of ingredients and products with their sources in our library.

Explore the library

Frequently asked

Does an E-number mean dangerous?

No. The 'E' shows the additive has been assessed and approved by the EU, not that it is dangerous. Most E-numbers are harmless; a few are controversial or restricted.

Which E-numbers should I watch?

Azo dyes (E102, E110, E122, E124, E129), titanium dioxide (E171) and some artificial sweeteners are more debated. You can review each in the library.

Is an additive-free product healthier?

Not necessarily. Less-processed products have fewer additives, but 'additive-free' is not automatically 'healthy'; sugar, salt and fat have no E-numbers either.

Where does the information come from?

Assessments rely on official sources like the EU authority EFSA, IARC and the EU additive list, not an AI guess.

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