E number

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

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 (e.g. 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	oranges
	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 do not 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

External links

Template:E number infobox 900-909

bs:E-brojevi da:E-nummer de:Liste der in der Europäischen Union zugelassenen Lebensmittelzusatzstoffe eo:E-numero gl:Números E it:Additivi alimentari hu:E-szám nl:E-nummer no:E-nummer nn:E-nummer fi:E-koodi sv:E-nummer ur:ای نمبر

Template:WH Template:WS

E number

Contents

Classification by numeric range

Full list

E100–E199 (colours)

E200–E299 (preservatives)

E300–E399 (antioxidants, acidity regulators)

E400–E499 (thickeners, stabilizers, emulsifiers)

E500–E599 (acidity regulators, anti-caking agents)

E600–E699 (flavour enhancers)

E900–E999 (miscellaneous)

E1000–E1999 (additional chemicals)

External links

Navigation menu