Food Additive Checker UK

What Are Food Additives?

Food additives are substances added to food during manufacturing or processing to serve a specific purpose. They might preserve freshness, improve texture, enhance flavour, or add colour. Some additives are derived from natural sources (citric acid from lemons, lecithin from soybeans), while others are synthetically produced.

In the UK, all food additives must be approved by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) before they can be used. Each approved additive is assigned an E-number — a standardised code that identifies it across Europe and the UK. The “E” stands for “Europe,” and the numbering system makes it possible to identify additives regardless of the language on the label.

Not all additives are controversial. Vitamin C (E300), for example, is used as an antioxidant in food and is perfectly safe. Others, like certain artificial colours, have attracted more debate.

Why People Want to Check Additives

Interest in food additives has grown significantly in recent years, driven by several factors:

• Allergies and sensitivities — Some people react to specific additives like sulphites (E220), tartrazine (E102), or sodium benzoate (E211). Identifying these quickly is important for managing symptoms.
• Children’s diets — Parents often want to limit artificial colours and flavourings in their children’s food, particularly the “Southampton Six” colours linked to hyperactivity.
• Ultra-processed food awareness — The growing conversation around UPF has made people more curious about what is actually in their food beyond the basic nutrition label.
• Religious and ethical concerns — Some additives are derived from animal sources (E120 carmine from insects, E441 gelatine from animal bones). Checking additives helps those following halal, kosher, vegan, or vegetarian diets.
• General curiosity — Many people simply want to understand what they are eating. Transparency builds trust.

Three Ways to Check Food Additives

1. Read the label manually

Every packaged food in the UK must list all ingredients, including additives, on the label. Additives may be listed by their E-number (e.g. E322) or their common name (e.g. soy lecithin) or both. The challenge is that without background knowledge, many additive names are meaningless to most people.

2. Use a barcode scanner app

This is the fastest method. Apps like NutraSafe’s additive scanner let you scan a product’s barcode and instantly see every additive broken down with plain-English explanations of what each one does, where it is commonly found, and what the FSA’s position is on its safety.

3. Look up individual E-numbers

If you spot an E-number you do not recognise, you can look it up in an E-number database. NutraSafe’s database covers all commonly used E-numbers with detailed information on function, safety status, and which products typically contain them.

20 Most Common Additives in UK Food

These are the additives you are most likely to encounter on UK food labels, along with what they do and where they are typically found.

The FSA’s Role in Additive Safety

The Food Standards Agency is responsible for food safety in the UK. For additives, this means:

• All additives must undergo safety assessment before approval
• Each has a maximum permitted level based on the amount considered safe for daily consumption
• Safety assessments are periodically reviewed as new research emerges
• The FSA can restrict or ban additives if evidence of harm emerges

Prior to Brexit, these assessments were conducted by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). The UK has retained existing approvals and now conducts its own reviews through the FSA’s scientific advisory committees.

The Southampton Six

In 2007, a University of Southampton study funded by the FSA found that certain mixtures of artificial food colours, when combined with the preservative sodium benzoate (E211), were associated with increased hyperactivity in some children.

The six colours identified — now known as the “Southampton Six” — are:

• E102 — Tartrazine (yellow)
• E104 — Quinoline Yellow
• E110 — Sunset Yellow
• E122 — Carmoisine (red)
• E124 — Ponceau 4R (red)
• E129 — Allura Red

As a result, products containing any of these colours must carry a warning label stating: “May have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children.” Many UK manufacturers have voluntarily removed these colours from their products, replacing them with natural alternatives like beetroot extract or paprika.

Categories of Food Additives

Additives are grouped by their function in food. Understanding these categories helps you make sense of ingredient lists more quickly.

Colours (E100–E199)

Make food look more appealing or restore colour lost during processing. Can be natural (E100 curcumin, E160a beta-carotene) or artificial (E102 tartrazine, E133 Brilliant Blue).

Preservatives (E200–E299)

Extend shelf life by preventing the growth of bacteria, moulds, and yeasts. Common examples include sorbic acid (E200), sodium benzoate (E211), and sulphites (E220-E228).

Antioxidants (E300–E399)

Prevent food from going rancid or changing colour due to oxidation. Includes ascorbic acid (E300, vitamin C) and citric acid (E330).

Emulsifiers, stabilisers, and thickeners (E400–E499)

Help ingredients that would normally separate (like oil and water) stay mixed, and give food its texture. Lecithin (E322), carrageenan (E407), and xanthan gum (E415) are among the most common.

Acidity regulators and anti-caking agents (E500–E599)

Control the acidity of food or prevent powdered products from clumping. Sodium bicarbonate (E500, baking soda) is a familiar example.

Flavour enhancers (E600–E699)

Intensify the existing flavour of food without adding a flavour of their own. MSG (E621) is the most well-known and most debated in this category.

Sweeteners (E900–E999)

Provide sweetness without the calories of sugar. Includes aspartame (E951), acesulfame K (E950), sucralose (E955), and stevia glycosides (E960).

How NutraSafe’s Additive Checker Works

NutraSafe combines barcode scanning with a comprehensive E-number database to give you instant, detailed additive information.

Scan any barcode

Point your phone camera at a product’s barcode. Within seconds, NutraSafe displays every additive in the product with a clear explanation of what each one does, which category it belongs to, and what the FSA says about it.

Browse the E-number database

Even without a product in hand, you can explore the full E-number database. Each entry covers the additive’s function, where it is commonly found, safety status, and any relevant notes (such as whether it is suitable for vegans).

See the full picture

Additives are just one part of the equation. When you scan a product with NutraSafe, you also see the full nutritional breakdown (calories, macros, micronutrients), ultra-processed food classification, and how the product contributes to your daily intake if you log it in your food diary.

Track patterns over time

If you suspect a particular additive is causing you problems (headaches, digestive issues, skin reactions), NutraSafe’s food reaction tracking lets you log symptoms alongside the foods you eat. Over time, patterns may emerge that help you identify triggers — information you can then share with your GP or dietitian.

Frequently Asked Questions

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