Deciphering E-Numbers: A Guide to Common Food Additives in Global Databases
What are E-numbers? Learn how to identify common food additives, their safety, and how to use CalorieFinder to screen for ingredients in packaged food
If you look at the ingredient list of an international food product, you will often find a list of codes starting with the letter "E," such as E300, E100, or E621. For many, these "E-numbers" are a source of anxiety, leading to the belief that the food is "full of chemicals." In reality, the "E" simply stands for Europe , and these numbers are a classification system for additives that have been assessed for safety by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). At CalorieFinder , we decode these numbers in our search results at www.caloriefinder.org . Today, we’re breaking down the E-number categories so you can shop with confidence. 1. What Exactly Are E-Numbers? E-numbers are additives used to improve the color, shelf-life, taste, or texture of food. While some are synthetic, many are derived from natural sources. For example, E100 is actually Turmeric, and E300 is Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid). The system was designed to simplify labels. Instead of writi…