An E-number is the code given to a food additive assessed and approved for use in the European Union and EFTA. The E stands for Europe. The number identifies the substance and its broad function — for example E100–E199 are colours, E200–E299 preservatives, E300–E399 antioxidants and acidity regulators, and E400–E499 thickeners, stabilisers and emulsifiers.

What does an E-number tell you?

An E-number alone does not determine the regulatory level — it means the additive is approved and identified. Some are simple substances such as vitamin C (E300) or baking soda (E500). Forkin groups additives by what regulators have said rather than making a blanket health claim.

Which E-numbers are banned?

Bans differ by country and change as regulators re-evaluate evidence. Forkin identifies additives banned or severely restricted in one or more jurisdictions; open an additive page for its regulatory level, and use the Forkin app for restrictions by country.

It depends on the additive and its source. Many can be made from plant, mineral or animal-derived materials, and labels rarely state which source was used. The Forkin app shows verified vegan and vegetarian status per product rather than guessing from the E-number alone.

Reference

Food additives (E-numbers)

Look up any food additive by its E-number or name. Forkin tracks 639 additives, grouped by what regulators have said about each one. Select a code for its profile.

Regulatory levels reflect EFSA re-evaluations and exposure assessments, IARC monograph classifications, the EU food additive register (Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008) and mandatory warning labels, ECHA harmonised CLP classifications, FAO/WHO JECFA acceptable-daily-intake reviews, and national measures (US FDA, Health Canada, California OEHHA Proposition 65). Informational only — not medical or dietary advice. New to E-numbers? Start with the guide to how EU additives are approved and banned.

Banned or severely restrictedResults: 16

Restricted useResults: 59

Regulatory attentionResults: 22

Under monitoringResults: 61

No flagsResults: 481

The 20 most common additives

Ranked by how many products in Forkin’s catalogue contain each additive — measured from our own ingredient enrichment, not survey data.

Browse by function

What an additive does — colour, preservation, emulsification or sweetening — grouped into reference lists.

Questions about E-numbers

What is an E-number?: An E-number is the code given to a food additive assessed and approved for use in the European Union and EFTA. The E stands for Europe. The number identifies the substance and its broad function — for example E100–E199 are colours, E200–E299 preservatives, E300–E399 antioxidants and acidity regulators, and E400–E499 thickeners, stabilisers and emulsifiers.
What does an E-number tell you?: An E-number alone does not determine the regulatory level — it means the additive is approved and identified. Some are simple substances such as vitamin C (E300) or baking soda (E500). Forkin groups additives by what regulators have said rather than making a blanket health claim.
Which E-numbers are banned?: Bans differ by country and change as regulators re-evaluate evidence. Forkin identifies additives banned or severely restricted in one or more jurisdictions; open an additive page for its regulatory level, and use the Forkin app for restrictions by country.
Are E-numbers vegan?: It depends on the additive and its source. Many can be made from plant, mineral or animal-derived materials, and labels rarely state which source was used. The Forkin app shows verified vegan and vegetarian status per product rather than guessing from the E-number alone.

Method: Forkin’s regulatory-level classifications track EFSA re-evaluations and exposure assessments, IARC monograph groupings (Groups 1, 2A, 2B, 3, 4), the EU food additive register (Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008) and mandatory warning labels, ECHA harmonised CLP classifications, FAO/WHO JECFA acceptable-daily-intake reviews, and national measures (US FDA, Health Canada, California OEHHA Proposition 65). See the methodology page for the full rubric.