Food Additive E-Number Checker
Search any E-number (e.g. E621) or additive name (e.g. monosodium glutamate) to get its risk rating, what foods it appears in, health concerns, and halal/vegan status. Based on a comprehensive database of 200+ E-numbers from E100 to E999.
Database covers E100–E999: colors, preservatives, antioxidants, emulsifiers, flavor enhancers, and sweeteners. Tip: Use the camera button to scan a food label and auto-detect E-codes.
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What Are Food Additives and E-Numbers?
Food additives are substances added to food during processing or preparation to preserve flavor, enhance taste, improve appearance, or extend shelf life. In the European Union, every approved food additive is assigned an E-number — a standardized code beginning with the letter E. The numbering system follows a logical structure: E100–E199 are food colorings, E200–E299 are preservatives, E300–E399 are antioxidants, E400–E499 are thickeners and emulsifiers, E500–E599 are acidity regulators, E600–E699 are flavor enhancers, and E900–E999 include sweeteners, waxes, and miscellaneous additives.
An additive receives an E-number only after the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) evaluates it for safety at typical consumption levels. This means having an E-number is generally a mark of regulatory approval, not danger. However, approval does not mean all E-numbers are equal — some have restricted uses or require warning labels, particularly for children.
Understanding Risk Ratings: Safe, Caution, and Avoid
This tool assigns three risk levels based on scientific consensus and regulatory status. Safe additives are well-studied, often naturally derived, and have no significant health concerns at normal dietary intake levels. Examples include E300 (vitamin C), E330 (citric acid), E160a (beta-carotene), and E500 (baking soda). These are universally accepted and often found naturally in whole foods.
Caution-rated additives have some associated concerns: they may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals, have conflicting research, or have been restricted or require warning labels in some jurisdictions. For example, E102 (tartrazine) and E211 (sodium benzoate) have been linked to hyperactivity in children in a 2007 UK study, prompting the EU to require warning labels on products containing these colors. People with asthma, aspirin sensitivity, or children with ADHD may want to minimize exposure to caution-rated additives.
Avoid-rated additives are those with significant health evidence, bans in multiple countries, or strong scientific concern. E250 (sodium nitrite) and E251 (sodium nitrate), used in processed meats, are classified as Group 2A probable carcinogens by the WHO's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). The EU permits their use but at strictly limited concentrations.
Halal, Haram, and Vegan Status of E-Numbers
Many E-numbers are derived from animal sources, making them relevant for Muslim consumers checking halal compliance and vegans avoiding animal products. E120 (carmine, also called cochineal) is produced by crushing dried cochineal insects — it is haram (impermissible) in Islamic dietary law and not vegan. E441 (gelatin) is typically derived from pork or beef bones, making the source critical for halal compliance. E542 (bone phosphate) may come from animal bones.
Flavor enhancers E631 (disodium inosinate) and E634 (calcium 5-ribonucleotides) are often derived from meat or fish, making them non-halal and non-vegan unless specifically certified plant-based. E904 (shellac) is secreted by the lac insect and is used as a coating on confectionery — it is not vegan. E471 (mono and diglycerides of fatty acids) can come from animal or vegetable sources; without certification, halal status is uncertain. The safest approach is to look for certified halal or vegan labels on packaged food products.