Nitrous oxide
Function: Antioxidant
E942 is the European food-additive number for Nitrous oxide, an antioxidant — used to stop fats and oils going rancid and to protect colour. Nitrous oxide (E942) is an antioxidant used as a food additive.
What is E942 used for?
Nitrous oxide (E942) is an antioxidant — used to stop fats and oils going rancid and to protect colour. It is added during food production for a technological purpose rather than for nutrition.
Is E942 safe or restricted?
E942 is an approved food additive in the EU and currently carries no special regulatory restrictions in the EU additive register. Forkin classifies it as “No regulatory flags” and does not make health claims. See the methodology for how regulatory levels are assigned.
Frequently asked questions about E942
- What is E942?
- E942 is the E-number for Nitrous oxide, an antioxidant — used to stop fats and oils going rancid and to protect colour. Nitrous oxide (E942) is an antioxidant used as a food additive.
- What is E942 used for?
- Nitrous oxide (E942) is an antioxidant — used to stop fats and oils going rancid and to protect colour. Manufacturers add it during processing rather than for nutrition. The Forkin app shows which products in your scan history actually contain it.
- Is E942 vegan or vegetarian?
- It depends on the source. Many additives can be produced from plant, mineral, or animal-derived raw materials, and the ingredient list rarely states which was used. The Forkin app shows the verified vegan and vegetarian status per product where it's known, instead of a blanket guess.
- Is E942 safe, and is it banned anywhere?
- E942 is an approved food additive in the EU and currently carries no special regulatory restrictions in the EU additive register. Forkin classifies it as "No regulatory flags" and does not make health claims — see the methodology page for how regulatory levels are assigned, and the Forkin app for the full profile, including acceptable daily intake (ADI) and restrictions by country.
See the full profile in Forkin
The Forkin app surfaces the full regulatory profile of E942 — acceptable daily intake (ADI), restrictions by country, vegan/vegetarian status, alternative names, and which products in your scan history contain it.