Food additive reference
Thickeners (E-numbers)
Thickeners increase viscosity and give body to a food without significantly changing its other properties. Common ones include guar gum (E412), xanthan gum (E415) and pectin (E440).
9 additives in this class, grouped by regulatory level. Informational only — not medical or dietary advice; see the methodology.
- E1203Polyvinyl alcoholNo regulatory flags
- E1204PullulanNo regulatory flags
- E327calcium lactateNo regulatory flags
- E460CelluloseNo regulatory flags
- E553Magnesium silicatesNo regulatory flags
- E553Asynthetic magnesium silicatesNo regulatory flags
- E553AISynthetic magnesium silicateNo regulatory flags
- E553AIIMagnesium trisilicateNo regulatory flags
- E553BTalcNo regulatory flags
Questions about thickeners
- What are thickeners?
- Thickeners are food additives that act as thickener — used to increase viscosity and give body to a food. In the EU they are identified by E-numbers and approved under Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008.
- Which E-numbers are thickeners?
- Forkin tracks 9 thickeners — for example Polyvinyl alcohol (E1203), Pullulan (E1204), calcium lactate (E327), Cellulose (E460). The full list with each one's regulatory level is on this page.
- Are thickeners vegan?
- It depends on the individual additive and its source — many can be produced from plant, mineral or animal-derived raw materials, and the label rarely says which. The Forkin app shows verified vegan and vegetarian status per product.
Check what's in your food with Forkin
Scan any barcode and Forkin flags the thickeners and other additives a product contains, with each one's regulatory level. See how Forkin compares to other scanners or view pricing.