What Are E-Numbers and Are They Safe?

Walk down any UK supermarket aisle and you'll spot E-numbers on ingredient labels. But what exactly are these codes, and should you be concerned about consuming them?

What Are E-Numbers?

E-numbers are codes for food additives that have been assessed and approved for use in the UK and European Union. The 'E' stands for Europe, indicating these additives have passed safety evaluations by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and are regulated by UK food law.

Food additives serve various purposes in modern food production:

• Preserving freshness: Prevent spoilage and extend shelf life
• Enhancing appearance: Add or restore colour to products
• Improving texture: Create smooth textures in processed foods
• Boosting flavour: Intensify taste or add sweetness
• Maintaining quality: Prevent separation or oxidation

Categories of E-Numbers

E-numbers are organised into categories based on their function. You can browse the full E-number index for a complete list with safety ratings.

E100-E199: Colours

These additives add or restore colour to food. Some are natural (like E100 turmeric), whilst others are synthetic. Several artificial colours have been linked to hyperactivity in children.

E200-E299: Preservatives

Preservatives prevent bacterial growth and extend shelf life. Common examples include sorbic acid (E200) and sulphites (E220-E228). Some people are sensitive to certain preservatives.

E300-E399: Antioxidants

These prevent oxidation and rancidity. Many are natural substances — E300 is vitamin C (ascorbic acid), and E306-E309 are forms of vitamin E (tocopherols). For a closer look at a specific antioxidant, see our guide to E141 (Chlorophyll).

E400-E499: Thickeners, Stabilisers, Emulsifiers

These improve texture and consistency, helping ingredients mix that wouldn't naturally combine. Examples include pectin (E440) and lecithin (E322).

E500-E599: Acidity Regulators

Control pH levels in food products. Includes sodium bicarbonate (E500), used in baking.

E600-E699: Flavour Enhancers

Intensify the taste of food. MSG (monosodium glutamate, E621) is the most well-known example.

E900-E999: Miscellaneous

Various additives including glazing agents, sweeteners, and gases used in packaging.

Are E-Numbers Safe?

The presence of an E-number means the additive has undergone safety testing and been approved for use. However, "approved" doesn't mean completely risk-free for everyone. For a deeper look at the evidence, read our guide: are E-numbers bad for you?

Considerations for Sensitive Individuals

Whilst most people tolerate E-numbers without issue, some may experience reactions:

• Children may be more sensitive to certain artificial colours
• People with asthma may react to sulphites (E220-E228)
• Some individuals report sensitivity to MSG (E621)
• Certain preservatives can trigger reactions in sensitive people

E-Numbers That May Cause Concern

Artificial Colours Linked to Hyperactivity

The "Southampton Six" colours have been associated with increased hyperactivity in some children:

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

Foods containing these colours must carry a warning label in the UK: "May have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children."

Preservatives

• Sulphites (E220-E228): Can trigger asthma symptoms in susceptible individuals
• Sodium benzoate (E211): Some people report sensitivity
• Nitrites (E249-E250): Used in processed meats; concerns about formation of potentially harmful compounds when heated

Sweeteners

• Aspartame (E951): Some people report headaches or other reactions
• Sucralose (E955): Generally recognised as safe but ongoing research

UK Regulatory Updates: 2025-2026

Since Brexit, the UK's Food Standards Agency (FSA) has been conducting its own independent reviews of food additives, separate from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). This means additive approvals in the UK and EU may increasingly diverge over time.

Titanium Dioxide (E171): UK and EU Now Differ

One of the most notable divergences concerns titanium dioxide (E171), a white colouring agent used in sweets, chewing gum, and some sauces. The EU banned E171 from food products in August 2022, citing concerns about potential genotoxicity based on an EFSA assessment. However, the FSA carried out its own review and concluded that E171 remains safe at current levels of consumption in the UK. As a result, titanium dioxide is still permitted in food sold in the UK.

This is worth knowing because it means products manufactured for the UK market may contain E171, whilst the same products sold in the EU would not. If you want to avoid titanium dioxide personally, you'll need to check labels or scan products with an app like NutraSafe.

Ongoing FSA Additive Reviews

The FSA continues to review food additives as part of its post-Brexit programme. These reviews examine existing safety data and any new research. The process is transparent and the FSA publishes its findings on its website. If any additive is found to pose a risk at current exposure levels, the FSA has the authority to restrict or ban it in the UK independently of EU decisions.

Ultra-Processed Foods and E-Numbers

There has been growing public awareness in the UK about ultra-processed foods (UPFs), driven in part by Chris van Tulleken's 2023 book Ultra-Processed People and subsequent BBC programmes. The conversation around UPFs has led many people to look more closely at food labels and ingredient lists.

It is important to understand that E-numbers and ultra-processed foods are not the same thing. An E-number is simply a code for an approved additive. Many E-numbers appear in minimally processed foods: for example, E300 (vitamin C) is used as an antioxidant in fruit juices, and E440 (pectin) is found in jams.

That said, heavily processed products do tend to contain more additives. A ready meal or packaged snack might list ten or more E-numbers for colouring, flavouring, emulsifying, and preservation, whilst a tin of chopped tomatoes might contain none. The number and type of additives on a label can be a useful signal when you are trying to understand how processed a food is, even if individual E-numbers are not harmful on their own.

If you are interested in understanding the level of processing in your food, NutraSafe's UPF scanner categorises products using the NOVA classification system and flags ultra-processed items when you scan a barcode.

Natural vs Synthetic E-Numbers

Many people assume "natural" automatically means safer, but this isn't always true. Some E-numbers are derived from natural sources:

• E100 (Curcumin) — From turmeric
• E160a (Carotenes) — From carrots, algae
• E300 (Ascorbic acid) — Vitamin C
• E322 (Lecithin) — From soya beans or eggs
• E440 (Pectin) — From fruit

Conversely, being synthetic doesn't necessarily mean dangerous. Safety depends on the specific substance and the amount consumed, not its origin.

How to Check E-Numbers in Your Food

Reading every ingredient label in the supermarket is time-consuming. NutraSafe's barcode scanner makes it simple:

1. Scan any food product barcode with your phone
2. Instantly see all E-numbers and additives present
3. Get information about each additive's purpose and safety profile
4. Identify potentially concerning additives for your circumstances

NutraSafe also includes a dedicated E-number database with over 500 entries, where you can look up any additive by its E-number or name. Each entry includes what the additive does, where it is commonly found, and any known concerns. This is useful if you spot an unfamiliar code on a label and want to check it quickly without scanning.

This is particularly useful for:

• Parents choosing products for children
• People with known sensitivities
• Anyone trying to reduce ultra-processed foods
• Those following specific dietary restrictions

You can also browse our complete guide to food additives for broader context on how additives are regulated and used in UK food.

The Bottom Line

E-numbers aren't inherently dangerous — they're simply codes for additives that have been approved for use in food. Most people consume them daily without problems.

However, some E-numbers may cause reactions in sensitive individuals, particularly children. With the UK now running its own additive reviews independently from the EU, staying informed matters more than it used to. The best approach is awareness: know what's in your food and make informed choices based on your individual needs.

Using a tool like NutraSafe to scan products helps you quickly identify additives without spending ages reading labels in the supermarket. This makes it easier to avoid specific E-numbers if you choose to, whilst not worrying unnecessarily about those that are safe.