Scan Ingredients for Hidden Additives

TL;DR: Barcode scanning apps can reveal the full list of additives in UK food products and rate them for safety. Many everyday items — bread, cereals, ready meals — contain more additives than you might expect. Not all are harmful, but knowing what is in your food puts you in control.

If you have ever squinted at the tiny print on a food label and wondered what half the ingredients actually are, you are not alone. UK supermarket shelves are full of products containing additives that most people do not recognise. Some are completely harmless. Some are worth being aware of. The challenge is telling the difference — and that is where ingredient scanning comes in.

How Ingredient Scanning Works

Modern food scanning apps like NutraSafe use a simple process to decode what is actually in your food:

Scan the barcode — point your phone camera at the product barcode in-store or at home
Retrieve the ingredient list — the app pulls the full ingredient data from its database, which for UK products covers most items from Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, Morrisons, Aldi, Lidl, and other major retailers
Flag additives — each additive is identified by its E-number and common name, with a clear explanation of what it does (preservative, emulsifier, colouring, flavour enhancer, etc.)
Show a safety rating — additives are rated using a traffic light system based on current assessments from the FSA (Food Standards Agency) and EFSA (European Food Safety Authority)

The whole process takes about two seconds. Instead of reading labels manually and Googling each ingredient, you get a clear, colour-coded overview on your screen.

Hidden Additives in Everyday UK Foods

Many foods that appear simple actually contain a surprising number of additives. Here are some common examples:

Supermarket bread

Standard sliced bread (Hovis, Kingsmill, Warburtons) typically contains emulsifiers (E471, E472e), flour treatment agents (E300 ascorbic acid), preservatives (E282 calcium propionate), and soya flour. Some loaves contain six or more additives beyond the basic flour, water, yeast, and salt. In contrast, genuine sourdough or bakery bread often contains just four ingredients.

Breakfast cereals

Many popular UK cereals contain added colours, flavourings, and preservatives. Even cereals marketed as healthy may include BHT (E321) as an antioxidant in the packaging liner. The FSA advises checking the ingredient list rather than relying on front-of-pack claims.

Ready meals

A typical UK supermarket ready meal can contain 15-25 additives including emulsifiers, stabilisers, flavour enhancers (such as E621 monosodium glutamate), modified starch, and various preservatives. This is not necessarily dangerous — all are approved for use — but many people prefer to know what they are eating.

Yoghurts

Flavoured yoghurts often contain thickeners (E1422 modified starch, E440 pectin), sweeteners (E950 acesulfame K, E951 aspartame in "light" versions), colours, and flavourings. Natural yoghurt, by comparison, is typically just milk and live cultures.

Worth knowing

UK food labelling regulations require all additives to be listed by either their E-number or their common name. Manufacturers sometimes use the common name (like "ascorbic acid") instead of the E-number (E300) because it sounds less chemical. Scanning apps show both, so you always know what you are looking at.

Understanding E-Numbers on Scan Results

E-numbers have a bad reputation, but the system itself is simply a way of categorising approved food additives. Here is how they are organised:

E-Number Range	Category	Examples
E100-E199	Colours	E100 curcumin, E160a beta-carotene, E150a caramel
E200-E299	Preservatives	E200 sorbic acid, E211 sodium benzoate, E250 sodium nitrite
E300-E399	Antioxidants & acids	E300 vitamin C, E330 citric acid, E322 lecithin
E400-E499	Thickeners & stabilisers	E410 locust bean gum, E440 pectin, E471 mono- and diglycerides
E500-E599	Acids, bases & minerals	E500 sodium bicarbonate, E509 calcium chloride
E600-E699	Flavour enhancers	E621 monosodium glutamate, E631 sodium inosinate
E900-E999	Glazing agents & sweeteners	E901 beeswax, E950 acesulfame K, E951 aspartame

As you can see, E300 is literally vitamin C and E330 is citric acid — the same thing found naturally in lemons. The E-number system means the additive has been assessed and approved by food safety authorities. It does not mean it is harmful.

Traffic Light Additive Ratings

NutraSafe uses a traffic light system to help you quickly assess the additives in a product:

Green — no concerns: Additives that are widely considered safe with strong evidence. Examples include E300 (vitamin C), E330 (citric acid), E440 (pectin), and E322 (lecithin).
Amber — worth noting: Additives that are approved as safe but where some studies suggest potential concerns at high intake levels, or where certain individuals may be sensitive. Examples include E621 (MSG), E250 (sodium nitrite), and some artificial sweeteners.
Red — be aware: Additives where regulatory bodies have noted specific concerns or restrictions. This includes the Southampton Six artificial colours (E102, E104, E110, E122, E124, E129) which carry a mandatory warning about effects on children's behaviour.

These ratings are based on current FSA and EFSA assessments and are updated as new evidence emerges. It is worth noting that all additives in UK food are approved as safe at the levels used. The traffic light system simply highlights where the conversation is more nuanced.

Making Informed Shopping Decisions

The point of ingredient scanning is not to make you afraid of food. It is about giving you the information to make choices that align with your personal priorities.

If you want fewer additives

Choose products with shorter ingredient lists (five ingredients or fewer is a good rule of thumb)
Look for sourdough bread over standard sliced bread
Buy natural yoghurt and add your own fruit instead of flavoured varieties
Cook from scratch when you can — even simple meals drastically reduce additive intake

If you have specific sensitivities

Some people react to particular additives. Sulphites (E220-E228) can trigger asthma symptoms. The Southampton Six colours may affect children with ADHD. MSG (E621) causes headaches in some individuals. If you suspect a sensitivity, scanning lets you consistently avoid your specific triggers without needing to eliminate all processed food.

Keeping perspective

The FSA and EFSA conduct rigorous safety assessments before any additive is approved for use in food. The presence of additives does not automatically make a product unhealthy. A ready meal with 15 additives might still be a reasonable nutritional choice depending on its overall calorie, protein, and micronutrient profile. Scanning helps you see the full picture rather than judging food by one dimension alone.

Practical tip

Try scanning your five most frequently purchased supermarket items this week. You might be surprised by what you find — and you might discover that some products you assumed were heavily processed are actually quite clean, while others that seem simple contain more additives than expected.

Know What Is in Your Food

NutraSafe's barcode scanner reveals every additive in UK food products with clear safety ratings. Free to scan, no account required.

Download NutraSafe Free

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I scan food for additives?

Use an ingredient scanning app like NutraSafe to scan the barcode on any UK food product. The app retrieves the full ingredient list and highlights any additives present, showing their E-number, common name, what they do (preservative, colouring, emulsifier, etc.), and a safety rating based on current regulatory assessments from the FSA and EFSA.

Are all E-numbers bad for you?

No. E-numbers are simply a classification system used in the EU and UK to identify approved food additives. Many E-numbers are completely harmless natural substances. For example, E300 is vitamin C (ascorbic acid), E160a is beta-carotene from carrots, and E330 is citric acid found naturally in lemons. The E-number system actually means the additive has been assessed and approved for use in food.

Which food additives should I avoid?

The FSA and EFSA have identified some additives that certain groups may want to limit. The Southampton Six artificial colours (E102, E104, E110, E122, E124, E129) have been linked to hyperactivity in children and must carry a warning label. Some people are sensitive to sulphites (E220-E228), sodium benzoate (E211), or certain emulsifiers. However, all additives in UK food are approved as safe at the levels used. Personal sensitivity varies significantly.

What hidden additives are in UK bread?

Standard UK supermarket bread often contains more additives than you might expect. Common ones include emulsifiers (E471, E472e) to improve texture, flour treatment agents (E300 ascorbic acid, E920 L-cysteine) to strengthen the dough, preservatives (calcium propionate E282) to prevent mould, and soya flour as a processing aid. Sourdough and bakery-style bread typically contain fewer additives.

Is there a free app that checks food ingredients in the UK?

Yes. NutraSafe offers free barcode scanning that reveals the full ingredient list and flags additives in UK food products. The free tier includes unlimited barcode scans with additive identification. For more detailed additive analysis with safety ratings and personalised flagging based on your sensitivities, premium features are available from £2.99 per month.