E number

E numbers, short for Europe numbers, are codes for substances used as food additives, including those found naturally in many foods, such as vitamin C, for use within the European Union and European Free Trade Association. Commonly found on food labels, their safety assessment and approval are the responsibility of the European Food Safety Authority. The fact that an additive has an E number implies that its use was at one time permitted in products for sale in the European Single Market; some of these additives are no longer allowed today.
Having a single unified list for food additives was first agreed upon in 1962 with food colouring. In 1964, the directives for preservatives were added; In 1970 antioxidants were added; In 1974 emulsifiers, stabilisers, thickeners and gelling agents were added as well.

Numbering schemes

The numbering scheme follows that of the International Numbering System as determined by the Codex Alimentarius committee, though only a subset of the INS additives are approved for use in the European Union as food additives. Outside the European continent plus Russia, E numbers are also encountered on food labelling in other jurisdictions, including the Gulf Cooperation Council, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and India.

Colloquial use

In some European countries, the "E number" is used informally as a derogatory term for artificial food additives. For example, in the UK, food companies are required to include the "E number" in the ingredients that are added as part of the manufacturing process. Many components of naturally occurring healthy foods and vitamins have assigned E numbers, e.g. vitamin C and lycopene, found in carrots. At the same time, "E number" is sometimes misunderstood to imply approval for safe consumption. This is not necessarily the case, e.g. Avoparcin is an antibiotic once used in animal feed, but is no longer permitted in the EU, and has never been permitted for human consumption. Sodium nitrite is toxic. Sulfuric acid is caustic.

Classification by numeric range

E number range	Subranges	Description
100–199 Colours	100–107	yellows
100–199 Colours	110–111	oranges
100–199 Colours	120–129	reds
100–199 Colours	130–139	blues and violets
100–199 Colours	140–149	greens
100–199 Colours	150–159	browns and blacks
100–199 Colours	160–199	gold and others
200–299 Preservatives	200–209	sorbates
200–299 Preservatives	210–219	benzoates
200–299 Preservatives	220–229	sulfites
200–299 Preservatives	230–239	phenols and formates
200–299 Preservatives	240–259	nitrates
200–299 Preservatives	260–269	acetates
200–299 Preservatives	270–279	lactates
200–299 Preservatives	280–289	propionates
200–299 Preservatives	290–299	others
300–399 Antioxidants and acidity regulators	300–305	ascorbates
300–399 Antioxidants and acidity regulators	306–309	Tocopherol
300–399 Antioxidants and acidity regulators	310–319	gallates and erythorbates
300–399 Antioxidants and acidity regulators	320–329	lactates
300–399 Antioxidants and acidity regulators	330–337	citrates and tartrates
300–399 Antioxidants and acidity regulators	338–343	phosphates
300–399 Antioxidants and acidity regulators	344–345	citrates
300–399 Antioxidants and acidity regulators	349–359	malates and adipates
300–399 Antioxidants and acidity regulators	360–369	succinates and fumarates
300–399 Antioxidants and acidity regulators	370–399	others
400–499 Thickeners, stabilisers and emulsifiers	400–409	alginates
400–499 Thickeners, stabilisers and emulsifiers	410–419	natural gums
400–499 Thickeners, stabilisers and emulsifiers	420–429	other natural agents
400–499 Thickeners, stabilisers and emulsifiers	430–439	polyoxyethene compounds
400–499 Thickeners, stabilisers and emulsifiers	440–449	natural emulsifiers
400–499 Thickeners, stabilisers and emulsifiers	450–459	phosphates
400–499 Thickeners, stabilisers and emulsifiers	460–469	cellulose compounds
400–499 Thickeners, stabilisers and emulsifiers	470–489	fatty acids and compounds
400–499 Thickeners, stabilisers and emulsifiers	490–499	others
500–599 pH regulators and anti-caking agents	500–509	mineral acids and bases
500–599 pH regulators and anti-caking agents	510–519	chlorides and sulfates
500–599 pH regulators and anti-caking agents	520–529	sulfates and hydroxides
500–599 pH regulators and anti-caking agents	530–549	alkali metal compounds
500–599 pH regulators and anti-caking agents	550–559	silicates
500–599 pH regulators and anti-caking agents	570–579	stearates and gluconates
500–599 pH regulators and anti-caking agents	580–599	others
600–699 Flavour enhancers	620–629	glutamates and guanylates
600–699 Flavour enhancers	630–639	inosinates
600–699 Flavour enhancers	640–649	others
700–799 Antibiotics	700–713
900–999 Glazing agents, gases and sweeteners	900–909	waxes
900–999 Glazing agents, gases and sweeteners	910–919	synthetic glazes
900–999 Glazing agents, gases and sweeteners	920–929	improving agents
900–999 Glazing agents, gases and sweeteners	930–949	packaging gases
900–999 Glazing agents, gases and sweeteners	950–969	sweeteners
900–999 Glazing agents, gases and sweeteners	990–999	foaming agents
1000–1599 Additional additives	1100–1599	New chemicals that do not fall into standard classification schemes

Not all examples of a class fall into the given numeric range; moreover, certain chemicals have a variety of purposes.

Full list

The list shows all components that have an E-number assigned, even those no longer allowed in the EU.

E100–E199 (colours)

E200–E299 ([preservative]s)

E300–E399 ([antioxidant]s, [acidity regulator]s)

E400–E499 (thickeners">Thickening agent">thickeners, stabilisers, [emulsifier]s)

E500–E599 ([acidity regulator]s, [anti-caking agent]s)

E600–E699 ([flavour enhancer]s)

E700–E799 (antibiotics)

Code	Name	Purpose	Status
E701	Tetracyclines	antibiotic
E702	Chlortetracycline	antibiotic
E703	Oxytetracycline	antibiotic
E704	Oleandomycin	antibiotic
E705	Penicillin G potassium	antibiotic
E706	Penicillin G sodium	antibiotic
E707	Penicillin G procaine	antibiotic
E708	Penicillin G benzathine	antibiotic
E710	Spiramycins	antibiotic
E711	Virginiamycins	antibiotic
E712	Flavomycin	antibiotic
E713	Tylosin	antibiotic
E714	Monensin A	antibiotic
E715	Avoparcin	antibiotic
E716	Salinomycin	antibiotic
E717	Avilamycin	antibiotic