Last update: 29 January, 2024
For an archive page showing the previous listing for 1995-2011, click here
The list below gives the reference number (the “E number”) and the English name of all those additives now listed in Annex II of Regulation 1333/2008. Although the Annex in the original Regulation was empty, by virtue of Regulation 1129/2011 of 11 November 2011 (and related amendments), this now contains the comprehensive listing of permitted additives and their permitted uses. For links to the main Regulation, the amendments and a consolidated version of the Regulation, return to the main food additive page [click here]
A related numbering system is used by the Codex Alimentarius Commission for their International Numbering System (INS). This largely uses the same numbers (but without the E). Discussions are held by the Codex Committee on Food Additives. Details of the Codex listing of additives can be found on the pages of the Codex General Standard for Food Additives (GSFA) Online Database.
Note for the UK: Following the UK's departure from the European Union, only those additives which were either (a) permitted on the day the UK left, or (b) have been subsequently approved by domestic legislation, can be used in Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland). Under the terms of the Northern Ireland Protocol, Northern Ireland continues to comply with the EU listing. This listing does not indicate any differences for Great Britain.
- E100 Curcumin
- E101 Riboflavins
- E102 Tartrazine
- E104 Quinoline Yellow
- E110 Sunset Yellow FCF/Orange Yellow S
- E120 Carminic acid, Carmine [Names amended by Regulation 2018/1472]
- E122 Azorubine, Carmoisine
- E123 Amaranth
- E124 Ponceau 4R, Cochineal Red A
- E127 Erythrosine
- E129 Allura Red AC
- E131 Patent Blue V
- E132 Indigotine, Indigo carmine
- E133 Brilliant Blue FCF
- E140 Chlorophylls and chlorophyllins
- E141 Copper complexes of chlorophylls, chlorophyllins
- E142 Green S
- E150a Plain caramel (The term caramel relates to products of a more or less intense brown colour which are intended for colouring. It does not correspond to the sugary aromatic product obtained from heating sugars and which is used for flavouring food (e.g. confectionery, pastry, alcoholic drinks)).
- E150b Caustic sulphite caramel
- E150c Ammonia caramel
- E150d Sulphite ammonia caramel
- E151 Brilliant Black PN [Name updated by Regulation 1274/2013 of 6 December 2013]
- E153 Vegetable carbon
- E155 Brown HT
- E160a Carotenes
E160b Annatto, Bixin, Norbixin[Deleted with effect from 2 January 2021 by Regulation 2020/771 of 11 June 2020. Replaced by next two items]- E160b(i) Annatto Bixin [Added by Regulation 2020/771 of 11 June 2020]
- E160b(ii) Annatto Norbixin [Added by Regulation 2020/771 of 11 June 2020]
- E160c Paprika extract, capsanthin, capsorubin
- E160d Lycopene
- E160e Beta-apo-8′-carotenal (C 30)
- E161b Lutein
- E161g Canthaxanthin [Not authorised for food… It is still listed for use in medicinal products]
- E162 Beetroot Red, betanin
- E163 Anthocyanins
- E170 Calcium carbonate
- E171 Titanium dioxide [Not authorised for food. Removed by Regulation 2022/63 of 14 January 2022 - Effective 7 August 2022. It is still listed for use in medicinal products]
- E172 Iron oxides and hydroxides [Added by Regulation 510/2013 of 3 June 2013]
- E173 Aluminium
- E174 Silver
- E175 Gold
- E180 Litholrubine BK
- E200 Sorbic acid
- E202 Potassium sorbate
E203 Calcium sorbate[Removed by Regulation 2018/98 from 12 August 2018]- E210 Benzoic acid (1)
- E211 Sodium benzoate (1)
- E212 Potassium benzoate (1)
- E213 Calcium benzoate (1)
- (1) Benzoic acid may be present in certain fermented products resulting from the fermentation process following good manufacturing practice.
- E214 Ethyl-p-hydroxybenzoate
- E215 Sodium ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate
- E218 Methyl p-hydroxybenzoate
- E219 Sodium methyl p-hydroxybenzoate
- E220 Sulphur dioxide
- E221 Sodium sulphite
- E222 Sodium hydrogen sulphite
- E223 Sodium metabisulphite
- E224 Potassium metabisulphite
- E226 Calcium sulphite
- E227 Calcium hydrogen sulphite
- E228 Potassium hydrogen sulphite
- E234 Nisin
- E235 Natamycin
- E239 Hexamethylene tetramine
- E242 Dimethyl dicarbonate
- E243 Ethyl lauroyl arginate [Added by Regulation 506/2014 of 15 May 2014]
- E246 Glycolipids [Added by Regulation 2022/1037 of 29 June 2022]
- E249 Potassium nitrite
- E250 Sodium nitrite
- E251 Sodium nitrate
- E252 Potassium nitrate
- E260 Acetic acid
- E261 Potassium acetates [Added by Regulation 25/2013 of 16 January 2013]
- E262 Sodium acetates
- E263 Calcium acetate
- E267 Buffered Vinegar [Added by Regulation 2023/2086 of 28 September 2023]
- E270 Lactic acid
- E280 Propionic acid
- E281 Sodium propionate
- E282 Calcium propionate
- E283 Potassium propionate
- E284 Boric acid
- E285 Sodium tetraborate (borax)
- E290 Carbon dioxide
- E296 Malic acid
- E297 Fumaric acid
- E300 Ascorbic acid
- E301 Sodium ascorbate
- E302 Calcium ascorbate
- E304 Fatty acid esters of ascorbic acid
- E306 Tocopherol-rich extract
- E307 Alpha-tocopherol
- E308 Gamma-tocopherol
- E309 Delta-tocopherol
- E310 Propyl gallate
E311 Octyl gallate[Removed by Regulation 2018/1481 from 25 October 2018]E312 Dodecyl gallate[Removed by Regulation 2018/1481 from 25 October 2018]- E315 Erythorbic acid
- E316 Sodium erythorbate
- E319 Tertiary-butyl hydroquinone (TBHQ)
- E320 Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA)
- E321 Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)
- E322 Lecithins
- E322a Oat lecithin [Added by Regulation 2022/1023 of 28 June 2022]
- E325 Sodium lactate
- E326 Potassium lactate
- E327 Calcium lactate
- E330 Citric acid
- E331 Sodium citrates
- E332 Potassium citrates
- E333 Calcium citrates
- E334 Tarartaric acid (L(+)-)
- E335 Sodium tartrates
- E336 Potassium tartrates
- E337 Sodium potassium tartrate
- E338 Phosphoric acid
- E339 Sodium phosphates
- E340 Potassium phosphates
- E341 Calcium phosphates
- E343 Magnesium phosphates
- E345(i) Trimagnesium dicitrate [Added by Regulation 2024/346 of 22 January 2024]
- E350 Sodium malates
- E351 Potassium malate
- E352 Calcium malates
- E353 Metatartaric acid
- E354 Calcium tartrate
- E355 Adipic acid
- E356 Sodium adipate
- E357 Potassium adipate
- E363 Succinic acid
- E380 Triammonium citrate
- E385 Calcium disodium ethylene diamine tetra-acetate (Calcium disodium EDTA)
- E392 Extracts of rosemary
- E400 Alginic acid
- E401 Sodium alginate
- E402 Potassium alginate
- E403 Ammonium alginate
- E404 Calcium alginate
- E405 Propane-1, 2-diol alginate
- E406 Agar
- E407a Processed euchema seaweed
- E407 Carrageenan
- E410 Locust bean gum
- E412 Guar gum
- E413 Tragacanth
- E414 Gum arabic (acacia gum)
- E415 Xanthan gum
- E416 Karaya gum
- E417 Tara gum
- E418 Gellan gum
- E420 Sorbitols
- E421 Mannitol
- E422 Glycerol
- E423 Octenyl succinic acid modified gum arabic [Added by Regulation 817/2013 of 28 August 2013]
- E425 Konjac
- E426 Soybean hemicellulose
- E427 Cassia gum
- E431 Polyoxyethylene (40) stearate
- E432 Polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate (polysorbate 20)
- E433 Polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate (polysorbate 80)
- E434 Polyoxyethylene sorbitan monopalmitate (polysorbate 40)
- E435 Polyoxyethylene sorbitan monostearate (polysorbate 60)
- E436 Polyoxyethylene sorbitan tristearate (polysorbate 65)
- E440 Pectins
- E442 Ammonium phosphatides
- E444 Sucrose acetate isobutyrate
- E445 Glycerol esters of wood rosins
- E450 Diphosphates
- E451 Triphosphates
- E452 Polyphosphates
- E456 Potassium polyaspartate [Added by Regulation 2017/1399 of 28 July 2017]
- E459 Beta-cyclodextrin
- E460 Cellulose
- E461 Methyl cellulose
- E462 Ethyl cellulose
- E463 Hydroxypropyl cellulose
- E463a Low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose (L-HPC) [Added by Regulation 2018/1461 of 28 September 2018]
- E464 Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose
- E465 Ethyl methyl cellulose
- E466 Sodium carboxy methyl cellulose, cellulose gum [Names amended by Regulation 1274/2013 of 6 December 2013]
- E468 Cross-linked sodium carboxy methyl cellulose, cross linked cellulose gum
- E469 Enzymatically hydrolysed carboxy methyl cellulose, Enzymatically hydrolysed cellulose gum
- E470a Sodium, potassium and calcium salts of fatty acids
- E470b Magnesium salts of fatty acids
- E471 Mono-and diglycerides of fatty acids
- E472a Acetic acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids
- E472b Lactic acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids
- E472c Citric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids
- E472d Tartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids
- E472e Mono- and diacetyl tartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids
- E472f Mixed acetic and tartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids
- E473 Sucrose esters of fatty acids
- E474 Sucroglycerides
- E475 Polyglycerol esters of fatty acids
- E476 Polyglycerol polyricinoleate
- E477 Propane-1,2-diol esters of fatty acids
- E479b Thermally oxidised soya bean oil interacted with mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids
- E481 Sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate
- E482 Calcium stearoyl-2-lactylate
E483 Stearyl tartrate[Removed by Regulation 2023/2379, effective 23 April 2024]- E491 Sorbitan monostearate
- E492 Sorbitan tristearate
- E493 Sorbitan monolaurate
- E494 Sorbitan monooleate
- E495 Sorbitan monopalmitate
- E499 Stigmasterol-rich plant sterols [Added by Regulation 739/2013 of 30 July 2013]
- E500 Sodium carbonates
- E501 Potassium carbonates
- E503 Ammonium carbonates
- E504 Magnesium carbonates
- E507 Hydrochloric acid
- E508 Potassium chloride
- E509 Calcium chloride
- E511 Magnesium chloride
- E512 Stannous chloride
- E513 Sulphuric acid
- E514 Sodium sulphates
- E515 Potassium sulphates
- E516 Calcium sulphate
- E517 Ammonium sulphate
- E520 Aluminium sulphate
- E521 Aluminium sodium sulphate
- E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate
- E523 Aluminium ammonium sulphate
- E524 Sodium hydroxide
- E525 Potassium hydroxide
- E526 Calcium hydroxide
- E527 Ammonium hydroxide
- E528 Magnesium hydroxide
- E529 Calcium oxide
- E530 Magnesium oxide
- E534 Iron tartrate [Added by Regulation 2015/1739 of 28 September 2015]
- E535 Sodium ferrocyanide
- E536 Potassium ferrocyanide
- E538 Calcium ferrocyanide
- E541 Sodium aluminium phosphate acidic
- E551 Silicon dioxide
- E552 Calcium silicate
- E553a Magnesium silicate
- E553b Talc
- E554 Sodium aluminium silicate
- E555 Potassium aluminium silicate
E556 Calcium aluminium silicate[Removed by Regulation 380/2012 from 31 January 2014]E558 Bentonite[Removed by Regulation 380/2012 from 31 May 2013]E559 Aluminium silicate (Kaolin)[Removed by Regulation 380/2012 from 31 January 2014]- E570 Fatty acids
- E574 Gluconic acid
- E575 Glucono-delta-lactone
- E576 Sodium gluconate
- E577 Potassium gluconate
- E578 Calcium gluconate
- E579 Ferrous gluconate
- E585 Ferrous lactate
- E586 4-Hexylresorcinol
- E620 Glutamic acid
- E621 Monosodium glutamate
- E622 Monopotassium glutamate
- E623 Calcium diglutamate
- E624 Monoammonium glutamate
- E625 Magnesium diglutamate
- E626 Guanylic acid
- E627 Disodium guanylate
- E628 Dipotassium guanylate
- E629 Calcium guanylate
- E630 Inosinic acid
- E631 Disodium inosinate
- E632 Dipotassium inosinate
- E633 Calcium inosinate
- E634 Calcium 5′-ribonucleotides
- E635 Disodium 5′-ribonucleotides
- E640 Glycine and its sodium salt
- E641 L-leucine [Added by Regulation 2015/649 of 24 April 2015]
- E650 Zinc acetate
- E900 Dimethyl polysiloxane
- E901 Beeswax, white and yellow
- E902 Candelilla wax
- E903 Carnauba wax
- E904 Shellac
- E905 Microcrystalline wax
- E907 Hydrogenated poly-1-decene
E912 Montan acid esters[Removed by Regulation 957/2014 from 1 October 2014]- E914 Oxidised polyethylene wax
- E920 L-cysteine
- E927b Carbamide
- E938 Argon
- E939 Helium
- E941 Nitrogen
- E942 Nitrous oxide
- E943a Butane
- E943b Isobutane
- E944 Propane
- E948 Oxygen
- E949 Hydrogen
- E950 Acesulfame K
- E951 Aspartame
- E952 Cyclamates
- E953 Isomalt
- E954 Saccharins
- E955 Sucralose
- E957 Thaumatin
- E959 Neohesperidine DC
- E960 Steviol glycosides [Added by Regulation 1131/2011 of 11 November 2011; deleted by Regulation 2021/1156 of 13 July 2021. For GB, deleted by SI 2023, No 334 from 15 May 2023 (but transition until 14 November 2024)]
- E960a Steviol glycosides from Stevia [Added by Regulation 2021/1156 of 13 July 2021. For GB, added by SI 2023, No 334 from 15 May 2023]
- E960c Enzymatically produced steviol glycosides [Added by Regulation 2021/1156 of 13 July 2021. For GB, added by SI 2023, No 334 from 15 May 2023]
- E960d lucosylated steviol glycosides [Added by Regulation 2023/447 of 1 March 2023]
- E961 Neotame
- E962 Salt of aspartame-acesulfame
- E964 Polyglycitol syrup [Added by Regulation 1049/2012 of 8 November 2012]
- E965 Maltitols
- E966 Lactitol
- E967 Xylitol
- E968 Erythritol
- E969 Advantame [Added by Regulation 497/2014 of 14 May 2014]
- E999 Quillaia extract
- E1103 Invertase
- E1105 Lysozyme
- E1200 Polydextrose
- E1201 Polyvinylpyrrolidone
- E1202 Polyvinylpolypyrrolidone
- E1203 Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)
- E1204 Pullulan
- E1205 Basic methacrylate copolymer
- E1206 Neutral methacrylate copolymer [Added by Regulation 816/2013 of 28 August 2013]
- E1207 Anionic methacrylate copolymer [Added by Regulation 816/2013 of 28 August 2013]
- E1208 Polyvinylpyrrolidone-vinyl acetate copolymer [Added by Regulation 264/2014 of 14 March 2014]
- E1209 Polyvinyl alcohol-polyethylene glycol-graft-co-polymer [Added by Regulation 685/2014 of 20 June 2014]
- E1404 Oxidised starch
- E1410 Monostarch phosphate
- E1412 Distarch phosphate
- E1413 Phosphated distarch phosphate
- E1414 Acetylated distarch phosphate
- E1420 Acetylated starch
- E1422 Acetylated distarch adipate
- E1440 Hydroxy propyl starch
- E1442 Hydroxy propyl distarch phosphate
- E1450 Starch sodium octenyl succinate
- E1451 Acetylated oxidised starch
- E1452 Starch aluminium octenyl succinate
- E1505 Triethyl citrate
- E1517 Glyceryl diacetate (diacetin)
- E1518 Glyceryl triacetate (triacetin)
- E1519 Benzyl alcohol
- E1520 Propane-1, 2-diol (propylene glycol)
- E1521 Polyethylene glycol
This page was first provided on 6 December 2011 (Original version first published: 29 July 1996)
