Food Additives E Codes

Food Additive E Code Index

This category lists major food additives one by one with E code, function, U.S. regulatory reference note and practical use summary. E numbers are not U.S. legal codes; every U.S. use should be checked against FDA, CFR, GRAS or color additive status before launch.

E code	Additive	Function	U.S. reference note
E100	Curcumin	Color	FDA color additive / ingredient status must be verified by use; no E-number system
E101	Riboflavins	Color / vitamin	FDA vitamin/ingredient status; no E-number system
E102	Tartrazine	Synthetic color	FD&C Yellow No. 5 / color additive listing
E104	Quinoline Yellow	Synthetic color	not generally equivalent to a U.S. FD&C color; verify FDA color status
E110	Sunset Yellow FCF	Synthetic color	FD&C Yellow No. 6 / color additive listing
E120	Carmines	Natural color	Carmine/cochineal extract color additive listing
E122	Azorubine / Carmoisine	Synthetic color	not a common U.S. FD&C color; verify FDA color status
E124	Ponceau 4R	Synthetic color	not a common U.S. FD&C color; verify FDA color status
E129	Allura Red AC	Synthetic color	FD&C Red No. 40 / color additive listing
E131	Patent Blue V	Synthetic color	not a common U.S. FD&C color; verify FDA color status
E132	Indigotine	Synthetic color	FD&C Blue No. 2 / color additive listing
E133	Brilliant Blue FCF	Synthetic color	FD&C Blue No. 1 / color additive listing
E140	Chlorophylls	Natural color	FDA status depends on chlorophyll/chlorophyllin identity and use
E141	Copper complexes of chlorophylls	Natural-derived color	FDA color status must be checked by identity and use
E150a	Plain caramel	Color	caramel color class status under FDA color additive rules
E150b	Caustic sulfite caramel	Color	caramel color class status under FDA color additive rules
E150c	Ammonia caramel	Color	caramel color class status under FDA color additive rules
E150d	Sulfite ammonia caramel	Color	caramel color class status under FDA color additive rules
E160a	Carotenes	Color	beta-carotene/color additive or nutrient status depending on use
E160b	Annatto, bixin, norbixin	Color	annatto extract color additive listing
E160c	Paprika extract	Color	paprika oleoresin color additive listing
E160d	Lycopene	Color	FDA status depends on source and use; verify color/ingredient listing
E160e	Beta-apo-8-carotenal	Color	color additive status should be verified by CFR listing
E161b	Lutein	Color	FDA status depends on source and use
E162	Beetroot red / Betanin	Natural color	vegetable juice/color additive style status depends on identity
E163	Anthocyanins	Natural color	fruit/vegetable juice or extract color status depends on source
E170	Calcium carbonate	Color / acidity regulator	GRAS/21 CFR ingredient uses; verify intended technical effect
E171	Titanium dioxide	Color	U.S. color additive status differs; verify current FDA color additive rules
E172	Iron oxides and hydroxides	Color	iron oxide color additive status depends on use
E200	Sorbic acid	Preservative	GRAS/21 CFR preservative status
E202	Potassium sorbate	Preservative	GRAS/21 CFR preservative status
E210	Benzoic acid	Preservative	GRAS/21 CFR preservative status
E211	Sodium benzoate	Preservative	GRAS/21 CFR preservative status
E220	Sulfur dioxide	Preservative / antioxidant	sulfiting agent status and labeling requirements apply
E221	Sodium sulfite	Preservative / antioxidant	sulfiting agent status and labeling requirements apply
E223	Sodium metabisulfite	Preservative / antioxidant	sulfiting agent status and labeling requirements apply
E224	Potassium metabisulfite	Preservative / antioxidant	sulfiting agent status and labeling requirements apply
E249	Potassium nitrite	Curing preservative	21 CFR curing agent / meat rules depend on USDA/FDA jurisdiction
E250	Sodium nitrite	Curing preservative	21 CFR curing agent / USDA-FSIS rules apply by product
E251	Sodium nitrate	Curing preservative	21 CFR/USDA rules depend on product category
E252	Potassium nitrate	Curing preservative	21 CFR/USDA rules depend on product category
E260	Acetic acid	Acidity regulator / preservative	GRAS acidulant status
E270	Lactic acid	Acidity regulator	GRAS acidulant status
E280	Propionic acid	Preservative	GRAS/21 CFR preservative status
E281	Sodium propionate	Preservative	GRAS/21 CFR preservative status
E282	Calcium propionate	Preservative	GRAS/21 CFR preservative status
E290	Carbon dioxide	Packaging gas / acidity agent	GRAS gas / processing use status
E300	Ascorbic acid	Antioxidant	GRAS nutrient/antioxidant status
E301	Sodium ascorbate	Antioxidant	GRAS nutrient/antioxidant status
E306	Tocopherol-rich extract	Antioxidant	GRAS antioxidant/nutrient status
E307	Alpha-tocopherol	Antioxidant	GRAS antioxidant/nutrient status
E310	Propyl gallate	Antioxidant	21 CFR antioxidant use; limits apply
E320	BHA	Antioxidant	21 CFR antioxidant use; limits apply
E321	BHT	Antioxidant	21 CFR antioxidant use; limits apply
E330	Citric acid	Acidity regulator / chelator	GRAS acidulant status
E331	Sodium citrates	Acidity regulator / emulsifying salt	GRAS buffering/emulsifying salt uses
E332	Potassium citrates	Acidity regulator	GRAS buffering salt uses
E333	Calcium citrates	Acidity regulator / calcium source	GRAS mineral salt uses
E334	Tartaric acid	Acidity regulator	GRAS acidulant status
E338	Phosphoric acid	Acidity regulator	GRAS acidulant status with use limits
E339	Sodium phosphates	Buffer / emulsifying salt	21 CFR phosphate uses; limits apply
E340	Potassium phosphates	Buffer	21 CFR phosphate uses; limits apply
E341	Calcium phosphates	Anticaking / calcium source	GRAS mineral salt / anticaking uses
E350	Sodium malates	Acidity regulator	GRAS status depends on salt and use
E363	Succinic acid	Acidity regulator	FDA status depends on use and purity
E392	Rosemary extract	Antioxidant	GRAS/ingredient status depends on extract specification
E400	Alginic acid	Thickener / stabilizer	GRAS hydrocolloid status
E401	Sodium alginate	Thickener / gelling agent	GRAS hydrocolloid status
E402	Potassium alginate	Thickener	GRAS hydrocolloid status
E406	Agar	Gelling agent	GRAS hydrocolloid status
E407	Carrageenan	Stabilizer / gelling agent	GRAS hydrocolloid status with specification requirements
E410	Locust bean gum	Thickener	GRAS hydrocolloid status
E412	Guar gum	Thickener	GRAS hydrocolloid status
E414	Acacia gum	Emulsifier / stabilizer	GRAS gum arabic status
E415	Xanthan gum	Thickener / stabilizer	GRAS hydrocolloid status
E416	Karaya gum	Thickener	FDA status depends on grade and use
E417	Tara gum	Thickener	FDA status depends on use and specification
E418	Gellan gum	Gelling agent	GRAS hydrocolloid status
E420	Sorbitol	Sweetener / humectant	GRAS/polyol status; labeling may apply
E421	Mannitol	Sweetener / anticaking	GRAS/polyol status; labeling may apply
E422	Glycerol	Humectant	GRAS humectant status
E440	Pectins	Gelling agent	GRAS hydrocolloid status
E450	Diphosphates	Emulsifying salt / leavening	21 CFR phosphate uses; limits apply
E451	Triphosphates	Stabilizer	21 CFR phosphate uses; limits apply
E452	Polyphosphates	Stabilizer	21 CFR phosphate uses; limits apply
E460	Cellulose	Bulking agent	GRAS cellulose uses
E461	Methyl cellulose	Thickener / gelling agent	FDA cellulose derivative status depends on use
E463	Hydroxypropyl cellulose	Thickener	FDA cellulose derivative status depends on use
E464	Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose	Thickener / thermal gelling agent	FDA cellulose derivative status depends on use
E466	Carboxymethyl cellulose	Thickener / stabilizer	GRAS cellulose gum status
E471	Mono- and diglycerides	Emulsifier	GRAS emulsifier status
E472a	Acetic acid esters of mono- and diglycerides	Emulsifier	FDA status depends on ester identity and use
E472b	Lactic acid esters of mono- and diglycerides	Emulsifier	FDA status depends on ester identity and use
E472c	Citric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides	Emulsifier	FDA status depends on ester identity and use
E472e	DATEM	Emulsifier	FDA status depends on DATEM regulation and use limits
E475	Polyglycerol esters of fatty acids	Emulsifier	FDA status depends on ester identity and use
E476	PGPR	Emulsifier	FDA status depends on use; check CFR and limits
E481	Sodium stearoyl lactylate	Emulsifier	FDA status depends on SSL regulation and use limits
E482	Calcium stearoyl lactylate	Emulsifier	FDA status depends on CSL regulation and use limits
E491	Sorbitan monostearate	Emulsifier	FDA status depends on sorbitan ester regulation
E500	Sodium carbonates	Raising agent / acidity regulator	GRAS leavening/alkali status
E501	Potassium carbonates	Acidity regulator	GRAS alkali status
E503	Ammonium carbonates	Raising agent	GRAS leavening status
E504	Magnesium carbonates	Anticaking / acidity regulator	FDA status depends on use
E508	Potassium chloride	Salt / flavor modifier	GRAS salt status
E509	Calcium chloride	Firming agent	GRAS mineral salt status
E516	Calcium sulfate	Firming agent / flour treatment	GRAS mineral salt status
E524	Sodium hydroxide	Acidity regulator	FDA status depends on processing/use conditions
E551	Silicon dioxide	Anticaking agent	21 CFR anticaking status and limits
E552	Calcium silicate	Anticaking agent	21 CFR anticaking status and limits
E553b	Talc	Anticaking / glazing	FDA status must be verified by use and purity
E620	Glutamic acid	Flavor enhancer	GRAS amino acid/flavor use status
E621	Monosodium glutamate	Flavor enhancer	GRAS MSG status
E627	Disodium guanylate	Flavor enhancer	FDA flavor enhancer status depends on use
E631	Disodium inosinate	Flavor enhancer	FDA flavor enhancer status depends on use
E635	Disodium ribonucleotides	Flavor enhancer	FDA flavor enhancer status depends on use
E901	Beeswax	Glazing agent	FDA wax/glazing status depends on use
E903	Carnauba wax	Glazing agent	FDA wax/glazing status depends on use
E904	Shellac	Glazing agent	FDA resin/glazing status depends on use
E905	Microcrystalline wax	Glazing agent	FDA petroleum wax status depends on use
E950	Acesulfame potassium	Sweetener	FDA approved high-intensity sweetener
E951	Aspartame	Sweetener	FDA approved high-intensity sweetener; PKU labeling applies
E952	Cyclamates	Sweetener	not approved for U.S. food use
E954	Saccharins	Sweetener	FDA approved high-intensity sweetener
E955	Sucralose	Sweetener	FDA approved high-intensity sweetener
E957	Thaumatin	Sweetener / flavor modifier	FDA status depends on use and specification
E959	Neohesperidin DC	Sweetener	U.S. status must be verified by use
E960	Steviol glycosides	Sweetener	FDA GRAS notices for specified steviol glycosides
E961	Neotame	Sweetener	FDA approved high-intensity sweetener
E962	Aspartame-acesulfame salt	Sweetener	U.S. status depends on component approvals and use
E965	Maltitols	Sweetener / humectant	GRAS/polyol status; labeling may apply
E966	Lactitol	Sweetener	GRAS/polyol status; labeling may apply
E967	Xylitol	Sweetener	GRAS/polyol status; labeling may apply
E968	Erythritol	Sweetener	GRAS/polyol status; labeling may apply
E969	Advantame	Sweetener	FDA approved high-intensity sweetener
E941	Nitrogen	Packaging gas	GRAS gas / packaging use status
E942	Nitrous oxide	Propellant gas	FDA status depends on propellant/food use
E948	Oxygen	Packaging gas	GRAS gas / packaging use status
E1103	Invertase	Enzyme	enzyme status depends on source, purity and GRAS/FDA review
E1105	Lysozyme	Enzyme / preservative	enzyme status and allergen/source review required
E1200	Polydextrose	Bulking agent / fiber	FDA status as bulking/fiber ingredient depends on use
E1404	Oxidized starch	Modified starch	FDA modified food starch status depends on modification
E1412	Distarch phosphate	Modified starch	FDA modified food starch status depends on modification
E1414	Acetylated distarch phosphate	Modified starch	FDA modified food starch status depends on modification
E1422	Acetylated distarch adipate	Modified starch	FDA modified food starch status depends on modification
E1442	Hydroxypropyl distarch phosphate	Modified starch	FDA modified food starch status depends on modification
E1450	Starch sodium octenyl succinate	Modified starch / emulsifier	FDA modified food starch status depends on modification
E1505	Triethyl citrate	Carrier / sequestrant	FDA status depends on use and purity
E1518	Glyceryl triacetate / Triacetin	Carrier / humectant	FDA status depends on use and purity

Food Additives E Codes

Food Additive E Code Index

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