Topic Page: E numbers
The table below gives a selection of food additives authorized by the European Commission (EC). The E written before the number stands for European. E numbers do not have to be displayed on lists of ingredients, and the manufacturers may choose to list additives by their name instead. E numbers cover all categories of additives apart from flavourings. Additives, other than flavourings, that are not approved by the European Commission, but are still used in the UK, are represented by a code number without an E. In the table below the typical use of specific E numbers are given, where known.
| Number | Name | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Colours | ||
| E102 | tartrazine | soft drinks |
| E104 | quinoline yellow | |
| E110 | sunset yellow FCF, orange yellow S | biscuits |
| E120 | cochineal | alcoholic drinks |
| E122 | azorubine, carmoisine | jams and preserves |
| E123 | amaranth | icing colouring (red) |
| E124 | ponceau 4R, cochineal red A | dessert mixes |
| E127 | erythrosine | glacé cherries |
| E129 | allura red AC | glacé cherries |
| E131 | patent blue V | |
| E132 | indigotine, indigo carmine | |
| E133 | brilliant blue FCF | |
| E142 | green S | pastilles |
| E150 | caramel | beers, soft drinks, sauces, gravy browning |
| E151 | brilliant black BN, black PN | |
| E160 (b) | annatto; bixin; norbixin | crisps |
| E180 | lithol rubine BK | |
| Anti-oxidants | ||
| E310 | propyl gallate | vegetable oils; chewing gum |
| E311 | octyl gallate | |
| E312 | dodecyl gallate | |
| E320 | butylated hydroxynisole (BHA) | beef stock cubes; cheese spread |
| E321 | butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) | chewing gum |
| Emulsifiers, stabilizers, thickeners, and gelling agents | ||
| E407 | carageenan | quick-setting jelly mixes; milk shakes |
| E413 | tragacanth | salad dressings; processed cheese |
| Preservatives | ||
| E210 | benzoic acid | |
| E211 | sodium benzoate | beer, jam, salad cream, soft drinks, fruit pulp |
| E212 | potassium benzoate | fruit-based pie fillings, marinated herring and mackerel |
| E213 | calcium benzoate | |
| E214 | ethyl p hydroxy benzoate | |
| E215 | sodium ethyl para-hydroxy-benzoate | |
| E218 | methyl p hydroxy benzoate | |
| E220 | sulphur dioxide | |
| E221 | sodium sulphite | dried fruit, dehydrated vegetables, fruit juices and syrups, sausages, fruit-based dairy desserts, cider, beer, and wine; also used to prevent browning of peeled potatoes and to condition biscuit doughs |
| E222 | sodium hydrogen sulphite | |
| E223 | sodium metabisulphite | |
| E224 | potassium metabisulphite | |
| E226 | calcium sulphite | |
| E227 | calcium hydrogen sulphite | |
| E249 | potassium nitrite | |
| E250 | sodium nitrite | bacon, ham, cured meats, corned beef, and some cheeses |
| E251 | sodium nitrate | |
| E252 | potassium nitrate | |
| Others | ||
| E450 | diphosphates | butters, sequestrants, emulsifying salts, stabilizers, texturizers, raising agents |
| E451 | triphosphates | bread, processed cheese, canned vegetables |
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