In the European Community, approved food additives are written with a prefix of 'E'. Australia and New Zealand have their own set of approved additives, which are not written with a prefix letter. In the table below, food additives approved for Europe are listed with an E, and those approved for Australia and New Zealand with an A.
| Number | Approv. | Names | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | A | E | turmeric, curcumin | colour |
| 101 | A | E | riboflavin, vitamin B2 | colour |
| 102 | A | E | tartrazine | colour (yellow) |
| 103 | A | alkanet | colour (red) | |
| 104 | A | E | Quinoline yellow | colour |
| 107 | E | Yellow 2G | colour | |
| 110 | A | E | Sunset yellow FCF | colour |
| 120 | A | E | cochineal, carmines | colour (red) |
| 121 | Citrus red 2 | colour | ||
| 122 | A | E | azorubine, carmoisine | colour |
| 123 | E | amaranth | colour (red) | |
| 124 | A | E | Brilliant Scarlet 4R, Ponceau 4R | colour |
| 125 | Ponceau SX | colour | ||
| 127 | E | erythrosine | colour | |
| 128 | E | Red 2G | colour | |
| 129 | A | E | Allura red AC | colour |
| 131 | E | Patent blue V | colour | |
| 132 | A | E | indigo carmine, indigotine | colour |
| 133 | A | E | Brilliant blue FCF | colour |
| 140 | A | E | chlorophylls | colour |
| 141 | A | E | copper chlorophylls | colour |
| 142 | A | E | Green S | colour |
| 143 | A | E | Fast green FCF | colour |
| 150a | A | E | caramel I - plain | colour |
| 150b | A | E | caramel II - caustic sulphite process | colour |
| 150c | A | E | caramel III - ammonia process | colour |
| 150d | A | E | caramel IV - ammonia sulphite process | colour |
| 151 | A | E | Brilliant Black BN | colour |
| 153 | A | E | vegetable carbon, carbon black | colour |
| 154 | E | Brown FK | colour | |
| 155 | A | E | Chocolate Brown HT | colour |
| 160a | A | E | carotenes | colour |
| 160b | E | annatto, bixin, norbixin | colour | |
| 160c | A | E | paprika extract, capsanthin | colour |
| 160d | A | E | lycopene | colour |
| 160e | A | E | beta-apo-8'-carotenal | colour |
| 160f | A | E | beta-apo-8'-carotenic acid ester | colour |
| 161a | A | flavoxanthin | colour | |
| 161b | A | E | lutein | colour |
| 161c | A | kryptoxanthin | colour | |
| 161d | A | rubixanthin | colour | |
| 161e | A | violoxanthin | colour | |
| 161f | A | rhodoxanthin | colour | |
| 161g | E | canthaxanthin | colour | |
| 162 | A | E | beet red | colour |
| 163 | A | E | anthocyanins | colour |
| 164 | A | Saffron, crocetin and crocin | ||
| 170 | E | calcium carbonates | colour, anticaking agent, stabiliser | |
| 171 | A | E | titanium dioxide | colour |
| 172 | A | E | iron oxides and hydroxides | colour |
| 173 | E | aluminium | colour | |
| 174 | E | silver | colour | |
| 175 | E | gold | colour | |
| 180 | E | litholrubine, latolrubine | colour | |
| 181 | E | tannins | colour, emulsifier, stabiliser, thickener | |
| 182 | orchil | colour | ||
| 200 | E | sorbic acid | preservative | |
| 201 | sodium sorbate | preservative | ||
| 202 | E | potassium sorbate | preservative | |
| 203 | E | calcium sorbate | preservative | |
| 209 | heptyl p-hydroxybenzoate | preservative | ||
| 210 | E | benzoic acid | preservative | |
| 211 | A | E | sodium benzoate | preservative |
| 212 | A | E | potassium benzoate | preservative |
| 213 | A | E | calcium benzoate | preservative |
| 214 | E | ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate | preservative | |
| 215 | E | sodium ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate | preservative | |
| 216 | A | E | propylparaben | preservative |
| 217 | E | propyl sodium ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate | preservative | |
| 218 | A | E | methylparaben | preservative |
| 219 | E | sodium methyl p-hydroxybenzoate | preservative | |
| 220 | A | E | sulphur dioxide | preservative, antioxidant |
| 221 | A | E | sodium sulphite | preservative, antioxidant |
| 222 | A | E | sodium hydrogen sulphite | preservative, antioxidant |
| 223 | A | E | sodium metabisulphite | preservative, antioxidant, bleaching agent |
| 224 | A | E | potassium metabisulphite | preservative, antioxidant |
| 225 | A | potassium sulphite | preservative, antioxidant | |
| 226 | E | calcium sulphite | preservative, antioxidant | |
| 227 | E | calcium bisulphite | preservative, antioxidant | |
| 228 | A | E | potassium bisulphite | preservative, antioxidant |
| 230 | E | biphenyl, diphenyl | preservative | |
| 231 | E | orthophenyl phenol, 2-hydroxybiphenyl | preservative | |
| 232 | E | sodium orthophenyl phenol | preservative | |
| 233 | thiabendazole | preservative | ||
| 234 | A | E | nisin | preservative |
| 235 | A | E | pimaricin, natamycin | preservative |
| 236 | formic acid | preservative | ||
| 237 | sodium formate | preservative | ||
| 238 | calcium formate | preservative | ||
| 239 | E | hexamethylene tetramine, hexamine | preservative | |
| 240 | formaldehyde | preservative | ||
| 241 | gum guaicum | preservative | ||
| 242 | A | E | dimethyl dicarbonate | preservative |
| 249 | A | E | potassium nitrite | preservative, colour fixative |
| 250 | A | E | sodium nitrite | preservative, colour fixative |
| 251 | A | E | sodium nitrate | preservative, colour fixative |
| 252 | A | potassium nitrate | preservative, colour fixative | |
| 260 | A | E | glacial acetic acid | preservative, acidity regulator |
| 261 | A | E | potassium acetates | preservative, acidity regulator |
| 262 | A | E | sodium acetates | preservative, acidity regulator |
| 263 | A | E | calcium acetate | preservative, acidity regulator |
| 264 | A | ammmonium acetate | preservative, acidity regulator | |
| 265 | dehydroacetic acid | preservative | ||
| 266 | sodium dehydroacetate | preservative | ||
| 270 | A | E | lactic acid | acidity regulator |
| 280 | A | E | propionic acid | preservative |
| 281 | A | E | sodium propionate | preservative |
| 282 | A | E | calcium propionate | preservative |
| 283 | A | E | potassium propionate | preservative |
| 284 | E | boric acid | preservative | |
| 285 | E | sodium tetraborate, borax | preservative | |
| 290 | A | E | carbon dioxide | propellant |
| 296 | A | E | malic acid | acidity regulator |
| 297 | A | E | fumaric acid | acidity regulator |
| 300 | A | E | ascorbic acid | antioxidant (water soluble) |
| 301 | A | E | sodium ascorbate | antioxidant (water soluble) |
| 302 | A | E | calcium ascorbate | antioxidant (water soluble) |
| 303 | A | potassium ascorbate | antioxidant (water soluble) | |
| 304 | A | E | ascorbyl palmitate, ascorbyl stearate | antioxidant (fat soluble) |
| 306 | A | E | tocopherol concentrate | antioxidant |
| 307 | A | E | dl-alpha-tocopherol | antioxidant |
| 308 | A | E | gamma-tocopherol | antioxidant |
| 309 | A | E | delta-tocopherol | antioxidant |
| 310 | A | E | propyl gallate | antioxidant |
| 311 | A | E | octyl gallate | antioxidant |
| 312 | A | E | dodecyl gallate | antioxidant |
| 315 | A | E | erythorbic acid | antioxidant |
| 316 | A | E | sodium erythorbate | antioxidant |
| 319 | A | tert-butylhydroquinone | antioxidant | |
| 320 | A | E | butylated hydroxyanisole, BHA | antioxidant (fat soluble) |
| 321 | A | E | butylated hydroxytoluene, BHT | antioxidant (fat soluble) |
| 322 | A | E | lecithins | antioxidant, emulsifier |
| 325 | A | E | sodium lactate | food acid |
| 326 | A | E | potassium lactate | food acid |
| 327 | A | E | calcium lactate | food acid |
| 328 | A | ammonium lactate | food acid | |
| 329 | A | magnesium lactate | food acid | |
| 330 | A | E | citric acid | food acid |
| 331 | A | E | sodium citrates | food acid |
| 332 | A | E | potassium citrates | food acid |
| 333 | A | E | calcium citrate | food acid |
| 334 | A | E | tartaric acid | food acid |
| 335 | A | E | sodium tartrates | food acid |
| 336 | A | E | potassium tartrates | food acid |
| 337 | A | E | potassium sodium tartrate | food acid |
| 338 | A | E | phosphoric acid | food acid |
| 339 | A | E | sodium phosphates | mineral salt |
| 340 | A | E | potassium phosphates | mineral salt |
| 341 | A | E | calcium phosphates | mineral salt |
| 342 | A | ammonium phosphates | mineral salt | |
| 343 | A | E | magnesium phosphates | mineral salt |
| 349 | A | ammonium malate | food acid | |
| 350 | A | E | sodium malates | food acid |
| 351 | A | E | potassium malate | food acid |
| 352 | A | E | calcium malates | food acid |
| 353 | A | E | metatartaric acid | food acid |
| 354 | A | E | calcium tartrate | food acid |
| 355 | A | E | adipic acid | food acid |
| 356 | E | sodium adipate | food acid | |
| 357 | A | E | potassium adipate | food acid |
| 363 | E | succinic acid | food acid | |
| 365 | A | sodium fumarate | food acid | |
| 366 | A | potassium fumarate | food acid | |
| 367 | A | calcium fumarate | food acid | |
| 368 | A | ammonium fumarate | food acid | |
| 370 | 1,4-heptonolactone | food acid | ||
| 375 | A | niacin, (vitamin B3) | colour retention agent | |
| 380 | A | E | triammonium citrate | food acid |
| 381 | A | ferric ammonium citrate | food acid | |
| 385 | A | E | calcium disodium EDTA | preservative |
| 400 | A | E | alginic acid | thickener, vegetable gum |
| 401 | A | E | sodium alginate | thickener, vegetable gum |
| 402 | A | E | potassium alginate | thickener, vegetable gum |
| 403 | A | E | ammonium alginate | thickener, vegetable gum |
| 404 | A | E | calcium alginate | thickener, vegetable gum |
| 405 | A | E | propylene gloycol alginate | thickener, vegetable gum |
| 406 | A | E | agar | thickener, vegetable gum |
| 407 | A | E | carrageenan | thickener, vegetable gum |
| 407a | A | E | processed eucheuma seaweed | thickener, vegetable gum |
| 409 | A | arabinogalactan | thickener, vegetable gum | |
| 410 | A | E | locust bean gum | thickener, vegetable gum |
| 412 | A | E | guar gum | thickener, vegetable gum |
| 413 | A | E | tragacanth | thickener, vegetable gum |
| 414 | A | E | acacia, gum arabic | thickener, vegetable gum |
| 415 | A | E | xanthan gum | thickener, vegetable gum |
| 416 | A | E | karaya gum | thickener, vegetable gum |
| 417 | E | tara gum | thickener, vegetable gum | |
| 418 | A | E | gellan gum | thickener, vegetable gum |
| 420 | A | E | sorbitol | humectant |
| 421 | A | E | mannitol | humectant |
| 422 | A | E | glycerin | humectant |
| 425 | E | konjac | thickener, vegetable gum | |
| 431 | E | polyoxyethylene (40) stearate | emulsifier | |
| 432 | E | polysorbate 20 | emulsifier | |
| 433 | A | E | polysorbate 80 | emulsifier |
| 434 | E | polysorbate 40 | emulsifier | |
| 435 | A | E | polysorbate 60 | emulsifier |
| 436 | A | E | polysorbate 65 | emulsifier |
| 440 | A | E | pectin | vegetable gum |
| 441 | A | E | gelatine (not classified as an additive) | gelling agent |
| 442 | A | E | ammonium phosphatides | emulsifier |
| 444 | A | E | sucrose acetate isobutyrate | emulsifier, stabiliser |
| 445 | E | glycerol esters of wood rosin | emulsifier | |
| 450 | A | E | diphosphates | mineral salt |
| 451 | A | E | triphosphates | mineral salt |
| 452 | A | E | polyphosphates | mineral salt |
| 459 | E | beta-cyclodextrine | - | |
| 460 | A | E | powdered cellulose | anti-caking agent |
| 461 | A | E | methylcellulose | thickener, vegetable gum |
| 463 | E | hydroxypropyl cellulose | thickener, vegetable gum | |
| 464 | A | E | hydroxypropyl methylcellulose | thickener, vegetable gum |
| 465 | A | E | methyl ethyl cellulose | thickener, vegetable gum |
| 466 | A | E | sodium carboxymethylcellulose | thickener, vegetable gum |
| 470 | A | magnesium stearate | emulsifier, stabiliser | |
| 470 | E | salts of fatty acids | emulsifier, stabiliser | |
| 471 | A | E | mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids | emulsifier |
| 472a | A | E | acetic acid esters of 471 | emulsifier |
| 472b | A | E | lactic acid esters of 471 | emulsifier |
| 472c | A | E | citric acid esters of 471 | emulsifier |
| 472d | A | E | tartaric acid esters of 471 | emulsifier |
| 472e | A | E | diacetyltartaric acid esters of 471 | emulsifier |
| 472f | E | mixed acetic and tartaric acid esters of 471 | emulsifier | |
| 473 | A | E | sucrose esters of fatty acids | emulsifier |
| 474 | E | sucroglycerides | emulsifier | |
| 475 | A | E | polyglycerol esters of fatty acids | emulsifier |
| 476 | A | E | polyglycerol polyricinoleate | emulsifier |
| 477 | A | E | propylene glycol esters of fatty acids | emulsifier |
| 479b | E | thermally oxidised soya bean oil | emulsifier | |
| 480 | A | dioctyl sodium sulphosuccinate | emulsifier | |
| 481 | A | E | sodium stearoyl lactylate | emulsifier |
| 482 | A | E | calcium stearoyl lactylate | emulsifier |
| 483 | E | stearyl tartarate | emulsifier | |
| 491 | A | E | sorbitan monostearate | emulsifier |
| 492 | A | E | sorbitan tristearate | emulsifier |
| 493 | sorbitan monolaurate | emulsifier | ||
| 494 | E | sorbitan monooleate | emulsifier | |
| 495 | E | sorbitan monopalmitate | emulsifier | |
| 500 | A | E | sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate | mineral salt |
| 501 | A | E | potassium carbonate, potassium bicarbonate | mineral salt |
| 503 | A | E | ammonium carbonate, ammonium bicarbonate | mineral salt |
| 504 | A | E | magnesium carbonate | anti-caking agent, mineral salt |
| 507 | A | E | hydrochloric acid | acidity regulator |
| 508 | A | E | potassium chloride | mineral salt |
| 509 | A | E | calcium chloride | mineral salt |
| 510 | A | ammonium chloride | mineral salt | |
| 511 | A | E | magnesium chloride | mineral salt |
| 512 | A | E | stannous chloride | colour retention agent |
| 513 | E | sulphuric acid | acidity regulator | |
| 514 | A | E | sodium sulphate | mineral salt |
| 515 | A | E | potassium sulphate | mineral salt |
| 516 | A | E | calcium sulphate | flour treatment agent, mineral salt |
| 517 | E | ammonium sulphate | mineral salt | |
| 518 | A | magneisum sulphate | mineral salt | |
| 519 | A | cupric sulphate | mineral salt | |
| 520 | E | aluminium sulphate | mineral salt | |
| 521 | E | aluminium sodium sulphate | mineral salt | |
| 522 | E | aluminium potassium sulphate | mineral salt | |
| 523 | E | aluminium ammonium sulphate | mineral salt | |
| 524 | E | sodium hydroxide | mineral salt | |
| 525 | E | potassium hydroxide | mineral salt | |
| 526 | A | E | calcium hydroxide | mineral salt |
| 527 | E | ammonium hydroxide | mineral salt | |
| 528 | E | magnesium hydroxide | mineral salt | |
| 529 | A | E | calcium oxide | mineral salt |
| 530 | E | magnesium oxide | anti-caking agent | |
| 535 | A | E | sodium ferrocyanide | anti-caking agent |
| 536 | A | E | potassium ferrocyanide | anti-caking agent |
| 538 | E | calcium ferrocyanide | anti-caking agent | |
| 540 | dicalcium diphosphate | anti-caking agent | ||
| 541 | A | E | sodium aluminium phosphate | acidity regulator, emulsifier |
| 542 | A | bone phosphate | anti-caking agent | |
| 544 | calcium polyphosphates | anti-caking agent | ||
| 545 | ammonium polyphosphates | anti-caking agent | ||
| 551 | A | E | silicon dioxide | anti-caking agent |
| 552 | A | E | calcium silicate | anti-caking agent |
| 553a | E | magnesium silicate | anti-caking agent | |
| 553b | A | E | talc | anti-caking agent |
| 554 | A | E | sodium aluminium silicate | anti-caking agent |
| 555 | E | potassium aluminium silicate | anti-caking agent | |
| 556 | A | E | calcium aluminium silicate | anti-caking agent |
| 558 | A | E | bentonite | anti-caking agent |
| 559 | A | E | kaolin, aluminium silicate | anti-caking agent |
| 570 | A | E | stearic acid | anti-caking agent |
| 575 | A | E | glucono-delta-lactone | acidity regulator |
| 576 | sodium gluconate | ? | ||
| 577 | A | E | potassium gluconate | stabiliser |
| 578 | A | E | calcium gluconate | acidity regulator |
| 579 | A | E | ferrous gluconate | colour retention agent |
| 585 | E | ferrous lactate | - | |
| 620 | A | E | glutamic acid | flavour enhancer |
| 621 | A | E | monosodium glutamate, MSG | flavour enhancer |
| 622 | A | E | monopotassium glutamate | flavour enhancer |
| 623 | A | E | calcium diglutamate | flavour enhancer |
| 624 | A | E | monoammonium glutamate | flavour enhancer |
| 625 | A | E | magnesium diglutamate | flavour enhancer |
| 626 | guanylic acid | flavour enhancer | ||
| 627 | A | E | disodium guanylate | flavour enhancer |
| 628 | E | dipotassium guanylate | flavour enhancer | |
| 629 | E | calcium guanylate | flavour enhancer | |
| 630 | E | inosinic acid | flavour enhancer | |
| 631 | A | E | disodium inosinate | flavour enhancer |
| 632 | E | dipotassium inosinate | flavour enhancer | |
| 633 | E | calcium inosinate | flavour enhancer | |
| 634 | E | calcium 5'-ribonucleotides | flavour enhancer | |
| 635 | A | E | disodium 5'-ribonucleotides | flavour enhancer |
| 636 | A | maltol | flavour enhancer | |
| 637 | A | ethyl maltol | flavour enhancer | |
| 640 | A | E | glycine | flavour enhancer |
| 641 | A | leucine | flavour enhancer | |
| 650 | E | zinc acetate | flavour enhancer | |
| 900 | A | E | dimethylpolysiloxane | emulsifier, anti-caking agent |
| 901 | A | E | beeswax | glazing agent |
| 902 | E | candelilla wax | glazing agent | |
| 903 | A | E | carnauba wax | glazing agent |
| 904 | A | E | shellac | glazing agent |
| 905 | A | E | paraffins | glazing agent |
| 907 | refined microcrystalline wax | glazing agent | ||
| 912 | E | montanic acid esters | humectant | |
| 914 | A | E | oxidised polyethylene wax | humectant |
| 920 | A | E | L-cysteine | flour treatment agent |
| 924 | potassium bromate | flour treatment agent | ||
| 925 | A | chlorine | flour treatment agent | |
| 926 | A | chlorine dioxide | flour treatment agent | |
| 927b | E | carbamide | flour treatment agent | |
| 928 | A | benzoyl peroxide | flour treatment agent | |
| 938 | E | argon | propellant | |
| 939 | E | helium | propellant | |
| 941 | A | E | nitrogen | propellant |
| 942 | A | E | nitrous oxide | propellant |
| 943a | E | butane | propellant | |
| 943b | E | isobutane | propellant | |
| 950 | A | E | acesulphame potassium | artificial sweetener |
| 951 | A | E | aspartame | artificial sweetener |
| 952 | A | E | cyclamic acid, cyclamates | artificial sweetener |
| 953 | A | E | isomalt | humectant |
| 954 | A | E | saccharin | artificial sweetener |
| 955 | A | sucralose | artificial sweetener | |
| 956 | A | alitame | artificial sweetener | |
| 957 | A | E | thaumatin | flavour enhancer, artificial sweetener |
| 959 | E | neohesperidine DC | ? | |
| 965 | A | E | maltitol | humectant, stabiliser |
| 966 | A | E | lactitol | humectant |
| 967 | A | E | xylitol | humectant, stabiliser |
| 999 | E | quillaia extract | humectant | |
| 1001 | A | choline salts and esters | emulsifier | |
| 1100 | A | amylases | flour treatment agent | |
| 1102 | A | glucose oxidase | antioxidant | |
| 1103 | E | invertase | ? | |
| 1104 | A | lipases | flavour enhancer | |
| 1105 | A | E | lysozyme | preservative |
| 1200 | A | E | polydextrose | humectant |
| 1201 | A | E | polyvinylpyrrolidone | mineral salt |
| 1202 | A | E | polyvinylpolypyrrolidone | colour stabiliser |
| 1400 | A | dextrin roasted starch | thickener, vegetable gum | |
| 1401 | A | acid treated starch | thickener, vegetable gum | |
| 1402 | A | alkaline treated starch | thickener, vegetable gum | |
| 1403 | A | bleached starch | thickener, vegetable gum | |
| 1404 | A | E | oxidised starch | thickener, vegetable gum |
| 1405 | A | enzyme treated starch | thickener, vegetable gum | |
| 1410 | A | E | monostarch phosphate | thickener, vegetable gum |
| 1412 | A | E | distarch phosphate | thickener, vegetable gum |
| 1413 | A | E | phosphated distarch phosphate | thickener, vegetable gum |
| 1414 | A | E | acetylated distarch phosphate | thickener, vegetable gum |
| 1420 | A | E | acetylated starch | thickener, vegetable gum |
| 1422 | A | E | acetylated distarch adipate | thickener, vegetable gum |
| 1440 | A | E | hydroxypropyl starch | thickener, vegetable gum |
| 1442 | A | E | hydroxypropyl distarch phosphate | thickener, vegetable gum |
| 1450 | A | E | starch sodium octenylsuccinate | thickener, vegetable gum |
| 1451 | E | acetylated oxidised starch | thickener, vegetable gum | |
| 1505 | A | E | triethyl citrate | thickener, vegetable gum |
| 1510 | ethanol (not classified as an additive) | alcohol | ||
| 1518 | A | E | triacetin | humectant |
| 1520 | A | E | propylene glycol | humectant |
| 1521 | A | polyethylene glycol 8000 | antifoaming agent | |