E number Totally Explained

Everything about E-number totally explained

E numbers are number codes for food additives and are usually found on food labels throughout the European Union. The numbering scheme follows that of the International Numbering System (INS) as determined by the Codex Alimentarius committee. Only a subset of the INS additives are approved for use in the European Union, the 'E' prefix which stands for Europe. In casual language in the UK and Ireland, the term "E-number" is used as a pejorative term for artificial food additives, and products may promote themselves as "free of E-numbers" even though some of the ingredients (for example bicarbonate of soda) do have such a code.
E numbers are also encountered on food labeling in other jurisdictions, including the GCC, Australia, New Zealand and Israel. They are increasingly (though still rarely) found on North American packaging, especially in Canada.

Classification by numeric range

100–199 Colours	100–109	yellows
	110–119	Orange
	120–129	reds
	130–139	blues & violets
	140–149	greens
	150–159	browns & blacks
	160–199	others
200–299 Preservatives	200–209	sorbates
	210–219	benzoates
	220–229	sulphites
	230–239	phenols & formates (methanoates)
	240–259	nitrates
	260–269	acetates (ethanoates)
	270–279	lactates
	280–289	propionates (propanoates)
	290–299	others
300–399 Antioxidants & acidity regulators	300–305	ascorbates (vitamin C)
	306–309	Tocopherol (vitamin E)
	310–319	gallates & erythorbates
	320–329	lactates
	330–339	citrates & tartrates
	340–349	phosphates
	350–359	malates & adipates
	360–369	succinates & fumarates
	370–399	others
400–499 Thickeners, stabilisers & emulsifiers	400–409	alginates
	410–419	natural gums
	420–429	other natural agents
	430–439	polyoxyethene compounds
	440–449	natural emulsifiers
	450–459	phosphates
	460–469	cellulose compounds
	470–489	fatty acids & compounds
	490–499	others
500–599 pH regulators & anti-caking agents	500–509	mineral acids & bases
	510–519	chlorides & sulphates
	520–529	sulphates & hydroxides
	530–549	alkali metal compounds
	550–559	silicates
	570–579	stearates & gluconates
	580–599	others
600–699 Flavour enhancers	620–629	glutamates
	630–639	inosinates
	640–649	others
900–999 Miscellaneous	900–909	waxes
	910–919	synthetic glazes
	920–929	improving agents
	930–949	packaging gases
	950–969	sweeteners
	990–999	foaming agents
1100–1599 Additional chemicals	New chemicals that don't fall into standard classification schemes

NB: Not all examples of a class fall into the given numeric range. Moreover, many chemicals, particularly in the E400–499 range, have a variety of purposes.

Full list

E100–E199 (colours)

E100 Curcumin, turmeric (food colouring)
E101 Riboflavin (Vitamin B₂), formerly called lactoflavin (Vitamin G) (food colouring)
E101a Riboflavin-5'-Phosphate (food colouring)
E102 Tartrazine (FD&C Yellow 5) (food colouring)
E103 Chrysoine resorcinol (food colouring)
E104 Quinoline yellow (food colouring)
E105 Fast Yellow AB (food colouring)
E106 Riboflavin-5-Sodium Phosphate (food colouring)
E107 Yellow 2G (food colouring)
E110 Sunset Yellow FCF, Orange Yellow S, FD&C Yellow 6 (food colouring)
E111 Orange GGN (food colouring)
E120 Cochineal, Carminic acid, Carmines, Natural Red 4 (food colouring)
E121 Citrus Red 2 (food colouring)
E122 Carmoisine, Azorubine (food colouring)
E123 Amaranth (FD&C Red 2) (food colouring)
E124 Ponceau 4R, Cochineal Red A, Brilliant Scarlet 4R (food colouring)
E125 Ponceau SX, Scarlet GN (food colouring)
E126 Ponceau 6R (food colouring)
E127 Erythrosine (FD&C Red 3) (food colouring)
E128 Red 2G (food colouring)
E129 Allura Red AC (FD&C Red 40) (food colouring)
E130 Indanthrene blue RS (food colouring)
E131 Patent Blue V (food colouring)
E132 Indigo carmine, Indigotine, FD&C Blue 2 (food colouring)
E133 Brilliant Blue FCF (FD&C Blue 1) (food colouring)
E140 Chlorophylls and Chlorophyllins: (i) Chlorophylls (ii) Chlorophyllins (food colouring)
E141 Copper complexes of chlorophylls and chlorophyllins (i) Copper complexes of chlorophylls (ii) Copper complexes of chlorophyllins (food colouring)
E142 Greens S (food colouring)
E143 Fast Green FCF (FD&C Green 3) (food colouring)
E150a Plain Caramel (food colouring)
E150b Caustic sulfite caramel (food colouring)
E150c Ammonia caramel (food colouring)
E150d Sulphite ammonia caramel (food colouring)
E151 Black PN, Brilliant Black BN (food colouring)
E152 Black 7984 (food colouring)
E153 Carbon black, Vegetable carbon (food colouring)
E154 Brown FK, Kipper Brown (food colouring)
E155 Brown HT, Chocolate brown HT (food colouring)
E160a Alpha-carotene, Beta-carotene, Gamma-carotene (food colouring)
E160b Annatto, bixin, norbixin (food colouring)
E160c Paprika extract, Capsanthin, capsorubin (food colouring)
E160d Lycopene (food colouring)
E160e Beta-apo-8'-carotenal (C 30) (food colouring)
E160f Ethyl ester of beta-apo-8'-carotenic acid (C 30) (food colouring)
E161a Flavoxanthin (food colouring)
E161b Lutein (food colouring)
E161c Cryptoxanthin (food colouring)
E161d Rubixanthin (food colouring)
E161e Violaxanthin (food colouring)
E161f Rhodoxanthin (food colouring)
E161g Canthaxanthin (food colouring)
E161h Zeaxanthin (food colouring)
E161i Citranaxanthin (food colouring)
E161j Astaxanthin (food colouring)
E162 Beetroot Red, Betanin (food colouring)
E163 Anthocyanins (food colouring)
E170 Calcium carbonate, Chalk (food colouring)
E171 Titanium dioxide (food colouring)
E172 Iron oxides and hydroxides (food colouring)
E173 Aluminium (food colouring)
E174 Silver (food colouring)
E175 Gold (food colouring)
E180 Pigment Rubine, Lithol Rubine BK (food colouring)
E181 Tannin (food colouring)
E182 Orcein, Orchil (food colouring)

E200–E299 (preservatives)

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 (ethyl para-hydroxybenzoate) (preservative)

E215 Sodium ethyl para-hydroxybenzoate (preservative)

E216 Propylparaben (propyl para-hydroxybenzoate) (preservative)

E217 Sodium propyl para-hydroxybenzoate (preservative)

E218 Methylparaben (methyl para-hydroxybenzoate) (preservative)

E219 Sodium methyl para-hydroxybenzoate (preservative)

E220 Sulphur dioxide (preservative)

E221 Sodium sulphite (preservative)

E222 Sodium bisulphite (sodium hydrogen sulphite) (preservative)

E223 Sodium metabisulphite (preservative)

E224 Potassium metabisulphite (preservative)

E225 Potassium sulphite (preservative)

E226 Calcium sulphite (preservative)

E227 Calcium hydrogen sulphite (preservative) (firming agent)

E228 Potassium hydrogen sulphite (preservative)

E230 Biphenyl, diphenyl (preservative)

E231 Orthophenyl phenol (preservative)

E232 Sodium orthophenyl phenol (preservative)

E233 Thiabendazole (preservative)

E234 Nisin (preservative)

E235 Natamycin, Pimaracin (preservative)

E236 Formic acid (preservative)

E237 Sodium formate (preservative)

E238 Calcium formate (preservative)

E239 Hexamine (hexamethylene tetramine) (preservative)

E240 Formaldehyde (preservative)

E242 Dimethyl dicarbonate (preservative)

E249 Potassium nitrite (preservative)

E250 Sodium nitrite (preservative)

E251 Sodium nitrate (preservative)

E252 Potassium nitrate (Saltpetre) (preservative)

E260 Acetic acid (preservative) (acidity regulator)

E261 Potassium acetate (preservative) (acidity regulator)

E262 Sodium acetates (i) Sodium acetate (ii) Sodium hydrogen acetate (sodium diacetate) (preservative) (acidity regulator)

E263 Calcium acetate (preservative) (acidity regulator)

E264 Ammonium acetate (preservative)

E265 Dehydroacetic acid (preservative)

E266 Sodium dehydroacetate (preservative)

E270 Lactic acid (preservative) (acid) (antioxidant)

E280 Propionic acid (preservative)

E281 Sodium propionate (preservative)

E282 Calcium propionate (preservative)

E283 Potassium propionate (preservative)

E284 Boric acid (preservative)

E285 Sodium tetraborate (borax) (preservative)

E290 Carbon dioxide (acidity regulator)

E296 Malic acid (acid) (acidity regulator)

E297 Fumaric acid (acidity regulator)

E300–E399 (antioxidants, acidity regulators)

E300 Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) (antioxidant)

E301 Sodium ascorbate (antioxidant)

E302 Calcium ascorbate (antioxidant)

E303 Potassium ascorbate (antioxidant)

E304 Fatty acid esters of ascorbic acid (i) Ascorbyl palmitate(antioxidant)

E305 (ii) Ascorbyl stearate (antioxidant)

E306 Tocopherol-rich extract (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 Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) (antioxidant)

E321 Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) (antioxidant)

E322 Lecithin (emulsifier)

E323 Anoxomer (antioxidant)

E324 Ethoxyquin (antioxidant)

E325 Sodium lactate (antioxidant)

E326 Potassium lactate (antioxidant) (acidity regulator)

E327 Calcium lactate (antioxidant)

E328 Ammonium lactate (antioxidant)

E329 Magnesium lactate (antioxidant)

E330 Citric acid (antioxidant) (acidity regulator)

E331 Sodium citrates (i) Monosodium citrate (ii) Disodium citrate (iii) Sodium citrate (trisodium citrate) (antioxidant)

E332 Potassium citrates (i) Monopotassium citrate (ii) Potassium citrate (tripotassium citrate) (antioxidant)

E333 Calcium citrates (i) Monocalcium citrate (ii) Dicalcium citrate (iii) Calcium citrate (tricalcium citrate) (acidity regulator) (firming agent) (sequestrant)

E334 Tartaric acid (L(+)-) (acid) (antioxidant)

E335 Sodium tartrates (i) Monosodium tartrate (ii), Disodium tartrate (antioxidant)

E336 Potassium tartrates (i) Monopotassium tartrate (cream of tartar) (ii) Dipotassium tartrate (antioxidant)

E337 Sodium potassium tartrate (antioxidant)

E338 Orthophosphoric acid (antioxidant)

E339 Sodium phosphates (i) Monosodium phosphate (ii) Disodium phosphate (iii) Trisodium phosphate (antioxidant)

E340 Potassium phosphates (i) Monopotassium phosphate (ii) Dipotassium phosphate (iii) Tripotassium phosphate (antioxidant)

E341 Calcium phosphates (i) Monocalcium phosphate (ii) Dicalcium phosphate (iii) Tricalcium phosphate (anti-caking agent) (firming agent)

E342 Ammonium phosphates: (i) Monoammonium Ortophosphate (ii) Diammonium Ortophosphate

E343 Magnesium phosphates (i) monomagnesium phosphate (ii) Dimagnesium phosphate (anti-caking agent) (Note - this additive is under discussion and may be included in a future amendment to the Directive on miscellaneous additives)

E344 Lecitin citrate (antioxidant)

E345 Magnesium citrate (antioxidant)

E349 Ammonium malate (antioxidant)

E350 Sodium malates (i) Sodium malate (ii) Sodium hydrogen malate (acidity regulator)

E351 Potassium malate (acidity regulator)

E352 Calcium malates (i) Calcium malate (ii) Calcium hydrogen malate (acidity regulator)

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)

E375 Niacin (nicotinic acid), Nicotinamide (colour retention agent)

E380 Triammonium citrate (acidity regulator)

E381 Ammonium ferric citrate (acidity regulator)

E383 Calcium glycerylphosphate (acidity regulator)

E384 Isopropil Citrate (acidity regulator)

E385 Calcium disodium ethylene diamine tetra-acetate, (Calcium disodium EDTA) (sequestrant)

E386 Disodium Ethylene Diamine Tetra-acetate

E387 Oxystearin

E388 Thiodipropionic acid

E389 Dilauryl thiodipropionate

E390 Distearyl thiodipropionate

E391 Phytic acid

E399 Calcium lactobionate

E400–E499 (thickeners, stabilizers, emulsifiers)

E400 Alginic acid (thickener) (stabiliser) (gelling agent) (emulsifier)

E401 Sodium alginate (thickener) (stabiliser) (gelling agent) (emulsifier)

E402 Potassium alginate (thickener) (stabiliser) (gelling agent) (emulsifier)

E403 Ammonium alginate (thickener) (stabiliser) (emulsifier)

E404 Calcium alginate (thickener) (stabiliser) (gelling agent) (emulsifier)

E405 Propane-1,2-diol alginate (Propylene glycol alginate) (thickener) (stabiliser) (emulsifier)

E406 Agar (thickener) (gelling agent) (stabiliser)

E407 Carrageenan (thickener) (stabiliser) (gelling agent) (emulsifier)

E407a Processed eucheuma seaweed (thickener) (stabiliser) (gelling agent) (emulsifier)

E408 Bakers yeast glycan

E409 Arabinogalactan

E410 Locust bean gum (Carob gum) (thickener) (stabiliser) (gelling agent) (emulsifier)

E411 Oat gum(thickener) (stabiliser)

E412 Guar gum (thickener) (stabiliser)

E413 Tragacanth (thickener) (stabiliser) (emulsifier)

E414 Acacia gum (gum arabic) (thickener) (stabiliser) (emulsifier)

E415 Xanthan gum (thickener) (stabiliser)

E416 Karaya gum (thickener) (stabiliser) (emulsifier)

E417 Tara gum (thickener) (stabiliser)

E418 Gellan gum (thickener) (stabiliser) (emulsifier)

E419 Gum ghatti (thickener) (stabiliser) (emulsifier)

E420 Sorbitol (i) Sorbitol (ii) Sorbitol syrup (emulsifier) (sweetener) (humectant)

E421 Mannitol (anti-caking agent) (sweetener)

E422 Glycerol (emulsifier) (sweetener)

E424 Curdlan

E425 Konjac (i) Konjac gum (ii) Konjac glucomannane (emulsifier)

E429 Peptones

E430 Polyoxyethene (8) stearate (emulsifier) (stabiliser)

E431 Polyoxyethene (40) stearate (emulsifier)

E432 Polyoxyethene (20) sorbitan monolaurate (polysorbate 20) (emulsifier)

E433 Polyoxyethene (20) sorbitan monooleate (polysorbate 80) (emulsifier)

E434 Polyoxyethene (20) sorbitan monopalmitate (polysorbate 40) (emulsifier)

E435 Polyoxyethene (20) sorbitan monostearate (polysorbate 60) (emulsifier)

E436 Polyoxyethene (20) sorbitan tristearate (polysorbate 65) (emulsifier)

E440 Pectins (i) pectin (ii) amidated pectin (emulsifier)

E441 Gelatine (emulsifier) (gelling agent)

E442 Ammonium phosphatides (emulsifier)

E443 Brominated vegetable oil

E444 Sucrose acetate isobutyrate (emulsifier)

E445 Glycerol esters of wood rosins (emulsifier)

E446 Succistearin

E450 Diphosphates (i) Disodium diphosphate (ii) Trisodium diphosphate (iii) Tetrasodium diphosphate (iv) Dipotassium diphosphate (v) Tetrapotassium diphosphate (vi) Dicalcium diphosphate (vii) Calcium dihydrogen diphosphate (emulsifier)

E451 Triphosphates (i) Sodium tripolyphosphate (pentasodium triphosphate) (ii) Pentapotassium triphosphate (emulsifier)

E452 Polyphosphates (i) Sodium polyphosphates (ii) Potassium polyphosphates (iii) Sodium calcium polyphosphate (iv) Calcium polyphophates (v) Ammonium Polyphosphate (emulsifier)

E459 Beta-cyclodextrine (emulsifier)

E460 Cellulose (i) Microcrystalline cellulose (ii) Powdered cellulose (emulsifier)

E461 Methyl cellulose (emulsifier)

E462 Ethyl cellulose (emulsifier)

E463 Hydroxypropyl cellulose (emulsifier)

E464 Hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose (emulsifier)

E465 Ethyl methyl cellulose (emulsifier)

E466 Carboxymethyl cellulose, Sodium carboxy methyl cellulose (emulsifier)

E466 Ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose

E468 Crosslinked sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (Сroscarmellose) (emulsifier) (Note - this additive is under discussion and may be included in a future amendment to the Directive on miscellaneous additives)

E469 Enzymically hydrolysed carboxymethylcellulose (emulsifier)

E470 Salts of fatty acids (with base Al, Ca, Na, Mg, К and NH4)

E470a Sodium, potassium and calcium salts of fatty acids (emulsifier) (anti-caking agent)

E470b Magnesium salts of fatty acids (emulsifier) (anti-caking agent)

E471 Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids (glyceryl monostearate, glyceryl distearate) (emulsifier)

E472a Acetic acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids (emulsifier)

E472b Lactic acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids (emulsifier)

E472c Citric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids (emulsifier)

E472d Tartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids (emulsifier)

E472e Mono- and diacetyl tartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids (emulsifier)

E472f Mixed acetic and tartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids (emulsifier)

E472g Succinylated monoglycerides (emulsifier)