E-Numbers Explained: How the Food Additive Numbering System Works
What E-numbers mean, how the ranges are organised by function, how they relate to the international INS system, and how food additives are labelled in the EU, UK, US, Canada and Australia.
To a consumer, "E471" can look alarming. To a food technologist, it is a precise identifier: mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids, an emulsifier that has been evaluated for safety and authorised with specified conditions of use. Understanding the system makes labels, specifications and regulatory work much easier.
Where E-numbers come from
E-numbers identify additives authorised in the EU. They sit within the International Numbering System (INS) developed by Codex Alimentarius, which provides numbers for additives used worldwide. Most E-numbers match their INS number. Authorisation is separate from numbering: an INS number exists for many additives that are not permitted in a given country.
Since Brexit, Great Britain authorises additives under its own retained regime, and the E-numbers continue to be used on labels.
How the ranges are organised
| Range | Main function | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| E100–E199 | Colours | E100 curcumin, E120 carmine, E160a carotenes, E162 beetroot red |
| E200–E299 | Preservatives (and some acids) | E202 potassium sorbate, E211 sodium benzoate, E250 sodium nitrite, E282 calcium propionate |
| E300–E399 | Antioxidants and acidity regulators | E300 ascorbic acid, E306 tocopherols, E322 lecithins, E330 citric acid |
| E400–E499 | Thickeners, stabilisers, emulsifiers, gelling agents | E407 carrageenan, E412 guar gum, E415 xanthan gum, E440 pectins, E471 mono- and diglycerides |
| E500–E599 | Acidity regulators, anti-caking agents, raising agents | E500 sodium carbonates, E551 silicon dioxide |
| E600–E699 | Flavour enhancers | E621 monosodium glutamate |
| E900–E999 | Glazing agents, sweeteners, packaging gases, others | E901 beeswax, E941 nitrogen, E951 aspartame, E955 sucralose, E960 steviol glycosides |
| E1000 and above | Additional additives, including modified starches (E14xx) | E1422 acetylated distarch adipate, E1442 hydroxypropyl distarch phosphate |
The ranges are a guide, not a strict rule. Lecithin (E322) sits in the antioxidant range but is used mainly as an emulsifier. Many additives have several functions, and labels must state the function they perform in that food.
How additives are labelled
| Market | Labelling rule (summary) |
|---|---|
| EU and UK | Functional class name followed by the specific name or E-number, for example "Preservative: potassium sorbate" or "Preservative: E202" |
| United States | Common or usual name; no E-numbers. Some classes have specific rules, such as declaring the function of chemical preservatives (for example "sodium benzoate (preservative)") and naming certified colours (for example "FD&C Red No. 40" or "Red 40") |
| Canada | Common names in the ingredient list; E-numbers are not used |
| Australia and New Zealand | Class name followed by the specific name or INS number, for example "Thickener (1442)" |
Other Codex member countries often use INS numbers with or without an "E".
A number is not a permanent approval
Authorisations are reviewed as science develops. A notable example is titanium dioxide (E171), which the European Food Safety Authority concluded in 2021 could no longer be considered safe as a food additive, mainly because concerns about genotoxicity could not be ruled out. The EU banned its use in food from 2022 (Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/63). Other regulators reached different conclusions, which shows why you must check each target market separately.
The EU is also re-evaluating additives that were authorised before 2009, so conditions of use may change. Keep your regulatory database current.
Practical use in product development and QA
- Specifications: state both the name and E/INS number, plus the purity specification it must meet (in the EU, Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012).
- Export: a single additive can be permitted in one product category and not another, and limits differ between markets. Check category by category, not just "is it allowed".
- Carry-over: additives in compound ingredients may need declaring in the final product if they still perform a technological function.
- Clean-label projects: replacing an E-number with an extract (for example, a vegetable powder rich in nitrate) does not remove the underlying chemistry, and regulators may view it as an additive used by another name.
For a deeper dive on one group, see how to choose a food preservative.
Sources
- European Union. Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 on food additives.
- European Commission. Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012 laying down specifications for food additives.
- European Commission. Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/63 regarding titanium dioxide (E171).
- EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings. Safety assessment of titanium dioxide (E171) as a food additive. EFSA Journal, 2021, 19(5): 6585.
- Codex Alimentarius. Class Names and the International Numbering System for Food Additives (CXG 36-1989).
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 21 CFR 101.22 (labelling of colours and chemical preservatives).
- Food Standards Australia New Zealand. Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, Schedule 7 (food additive class names) and Schedule 8 (food additive names and code numbers).
This guide is educational. Safety-critical limits (thermal processes, pH limits, allergen claims) must be confirmed with your process authority, certification body or regulator for your product and market. Spotted an error? Tell the editors.