Home
Back One Page
About Phil
Request Healing
Contact
Treatments
Articles
Email a Friend
Products
Appointments
Gift Solutions
Phil Chave creator of Distant Healer
|
The Haven Healing Centre Guide to Food Additives, E Numbers, and their Effects on our Body Chemistry
The capital 'E' in front of the number means that additive has been passed for food use throughout the European Community. As a general rule, E numbers from E100 -199 are colourings, E200 - 299 are preservatives, E300 - 399 are acids, antioxidants and mineral salts, E400 - 599 are vegetable gums, emulsifiers, stabilisers and anti-caking agents,
E600 and above are flavour enhancers, E900 - 1500 are miscellaneous. An E number does not always mean 'artificial' - for example, of the 46 permitted food colours, 21 are "natural" - that is they occur in nature and are extracted from vegetable and animal sources. Of course, the other 25 are "not natural". Many additives just replace a more expensive ingredient with a cheaper one.
Not all E Numbers are bad for you! But enough of them have been banned around the world for us to take note of what we take into our bodies as "food".
Because of the bad press given to E numbers over the last 20 years or so, food manufacturers have started to give the full chemical name rather than the E number. This is because, even if you CAN read it, you're much less likely to look it up. Just printing an E number encourages consumers to be curious. Printing the chemical name distracts us and steers our thoughts toward acceptance. We are much more likely to think something like, "It must be safe because they've printed it on the packet". I hate this kind of double-bluff!
What's wrong with eating chemical cocktails?
Think about dribbling sand into the oil filler funnel of a car engine over a long period of time, like an egg timer trickling from top to bottom. No matter how many times you wash the outside of the car or engine, sooner rather than later, that engine will sieze up and the car will stop working. Why do we imagine, that our bodies, which are millions of times more complicated and delicate than a car engine, should react any differently, when subjected to the chemicals and toxins that are around us in our homes and in our food?
E-Number |
Name |
Category |
Comments |
E100 |
Curcumin, turmeric |
Colouring |
Orange-yellow colour, derived from turmeric |
E101 |
Riboflavin -Vitamin B2 |
Yellow colour |
A vitamin. Formerly lactoflavin |
E102 |
Tartrazine |
Colouring |
Potential allergic reaction. Avoid if possible. Orange/yellow. Banned in Austria & Norway |
E103 |
Chrysoine Resorcinol |
Colouring |
|
E104 |
Quinoline Yellow |
Greenish yellow colouring |
Potential allergic reaction. Banned in Australia, Norway & USA |
E107 |
Yellow 2G |
Yellow colour |
Potential allergic reaction. Avoid if possible. Banned in Australia & USA |
E110 |
Sunset Yellow FCF |
Yellow colour |
Potential strong allergic reaction. Avoid if possible. Banned in Norway |
E120 |
Cochineal, Carminic acid |
Red colour |
Obtained from egg yolk and dried insects. Avoid if possible |
E122 |
Carmoisine |
Red colour |
Potential allergic reaction. Avoid if possible. Banned in Austria, Norway, Sweden & USA |
E123 |
Amaranth |
Purplish-red colour |
Avoid if possible. Banned in many, many countries |
E124 |
Brilliant Scarlet 4R, Ponceau 4R |
Red colour |
Potential allergic reaction. Avoid if possible |
E127 |
Erythrosine |
Red colour |
Potential allergic reaction. Avoid if possible |
E128 |
Red 2G |
Red colour |
Potential allergic reaction. Banned in many countries |
E129 |
Allura Red AC |
Red colour |
Potential skin allergic reaction. Best avoided. Banned in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Norway, Sweden & Switzerland |
E131 |
Patent Blue V |
Blue colour |
Potential allergic reaction. Banned in Australia |
E132 |
Indigo Carmine |
Blue colour |
Potential strong allergic reaction. Avoid if possible. Banned in Norway |
E133 |
Brilliant Blue FCF |
Blue colour |
Potential allergic reaction. Avoid if possible. Banned in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Norway, Sweden & Switzerland |
E140 |
Chlorophyll |
Green to olive colour |
At last! A naturally occurring green pigment found in leaves and stems of plants. |
E141 |
Copper complex of Chlorophyll |
Olive colour |
|
E142 |
Greens S |
Green colour |
Banned in Norway, Sweden & USA |
E150 (A-D) |
Caramels |
Brown colour |
Commonly used colour and flavouring agent |
E151 |
Brilliant Black BN |
Black colour |
Potential allergic reaction. Avoid if possible. Banned in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland & USA |
E153 |
Carbon black, Vegetable carbon |
Black colour |
Natural colour from burnt plant material, or manufactured. Banned in USA |
E154 |
Brown FK |
Brown colour |
Potential allergic reaction. Banned in Australia & USA |
E155 |
Chocolate brown HT |
Brown colour |
Avoid if possible. Banned in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland & USA |
E160 (A) |
Alpha-, Beta-, Gamma-Carotene |
Yellow to red |
From carrots, tomatoes, apricots, oranges, and green veg. Now likely manufactured. |
E160 (B) |
Annatto, bixin, norbixin |
Orange colour |
|
E160 (C) |
Paprika extract; Capsanthin |
Colouring agent |
Banned in several countries |
E160 (D) |
Lycopene |
Colouring agent |
Banned in Australia |
E160 (E) |
Beta-apo-8'-carotenal |
Orange colour |
No adverse effects recorded |
E160 (F) |
Ethyl ester of beta-apo-8'-carotenic acid |
Orange colour |
No adverse effects recorded |
E161 |
Xanthophylls |
Yellow to red |
No adverse effects recorded |
E161 (G) |
Canthaxanthin |
Orange colour |
No adverse effects recorded |
E162 |
Betanin (Beetroot Red) |
Red/purple colour |
Another natural colour. No adverse effects recorded |
E163 |
Anthocyanins |
Violet colour |
Plant pigments naturally present |
E170 |
Calcium carbonate, Chalk |
Colouring |
Naturally occurring mineral |
E171 |
Titanium dioxide |
White colour |
|
E172 |
Iron oxides and hydroxides |
Colouring |
Naturally occurring minerals |
E173 |
Aluminium |
Colouring agent |
Banned in some countries |
E174 |
Silver |
Colouring |
Banned in some countries |
E175 |
Gold |
Colouring |
Banned in some countries |
E180 |
Pigment Rubine, Lithol Rubine |
Colouring |
Banned in some countries |
E181 |
Tannin, Tannic acid |
Colouring |
|
E-Number |
Name |
Category |
Comments |
E200 |
Sorbic acid |
Preservative |
Potential skin irritant |
E201 |
Sodium sorbate |
Preservative |
|
E202 |
Potassium sorbate |
Preservative |
|
E203 |
Calcium sorbate |
Preservative |
|
E210 |
Benzoic Acid |
Preservative and anti-oxidant |
Potential allergic reaction. Avoid if possible. |
E211 |
Sodium Benzoate |
Preservative |
Potential allergic reaction. Avoid if possible. |
E212 |
Potassium benzoate |
Preservative |
Potential allergic reaction. Avoid if possible. |
E213 |
Calcium benzoate |
Preservative |
Potential allergic reaction. Avoid if possible. |
E214 |
Ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate |
Preservative |
Potential allergic reaction. Banned in some countries |
E215 |
Sodium ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate |
Preservative |
Potential allergic reaction. Banned in some countries |
E216 |
Propyl p-hydroxybenzoate |
Preservative |
Potential allergic reaction by contact |
E217 |
Sodium propyl p-hydroxybenzoate |
Preservative |
Potential allergic reaction. Banned in some countries |
E218 |
Methyl p-hydroxybenzoate |
Preservative |
Potential allergic reaction by contact (skin) |
E219 |
Sodium methyl p-hydroxybenzoate |
Preservative |
Potential allergic reaction. Banned in some countries |
E220 |
Sulphur Dioxide |
Preservative |
Potential allergic reaction. Avoid if possible |
E221 |
Sodium sulphite |
Preservative |
Potential allergic reaction. Avoid if possible |
E222 |
Sodium Bisulphite |
Preservative and bleaching |
Potential allergic reaction. Avoid if possible |
E223 |
Sodium metabisulphite |
Preservative |
Potential allergic reaction. Avoid if possible |
E224 |
Potassium metabisulphite |
Preservative |
Potential allergic reaction. Avoid if possible |
E225 |
Potassium sulphite |
Preservative |
Potential allergic reaction. Avoid if possible |
E226 |
Calcium sulphite |
Preservative |
Potential allergic reaction. Banned in some countries |
E227 |
Calcium hydrogen sulphite |
Preservative |
Potential allergic reaction. Banned in some countries |
E228 |
Potassium hydrogen sulphite |
Preservative |
Potential allergic reaction. Avoid if possible |
E230 |
Biphenyl, diphenyl |
Preservative |
Banned in Australia and some other countries |
E231 |
Orthophenyl phenol |
Preservative |
Banned in Australia |
E232 |
Sodium orthophenyl phenol |
Preservative |
Banned in some countries |
E233 |
Thiabendazole |
Preservative |
Banned in Australia and some other countries |
E234 |
Nisin |
Preservative |
|
E235 |
Natamycin |
Preservative |
Potential allergic reaction. Avoid if possible |
E236 |
Formic acid |
Preservative |
Banned in some countries |
E237 |
Sodium formate |
Preservative |
Banned in some countries |
E238 |
Calcium formate |
Preservative |
Banned in some countries |
E239 |
Hexamethylene tetramine, Hexamine |
Preservative |
Banned in some countries |
E240 |
Formaldehyde |
Preservative |
|
E242 |
Dimethyl dicarbonate |
Preservative |
|
E249 |
Potassium nitrite |
Preservative |
Potential allergic reaction. Avoid for children |
E250 |
Sodium nitrite |
Preservative |
Potential allergic reaction. Avoid for children |
E251 |
Sodium nitrate, saltpetre |
Preservative |
|
E252 |
Potassium Nitrate |
Preservative |
Potential allergic reaction. Avoid for children |
E260 |
Acetic acid |
Acidity regulator |
No adverse effects recorded |
E261 |
Potassium acetate |
Acidity regulator |
|
E262 |
Sodium acetate |
Acidity regulator |
No adverse effects recorded |
E264 |
Ammonium acetate |
Acidity regulator |
Potential allergic reaction. Avoid if possible |
E270 |
Lactic acid |
Acidity regulator, Antioxidant |
Avoid for children |
E280 |
Propionic acid |
Preservative |
|
E281 |
Sodium propionate |
Preservative |
|
E282 |
Calcium propionate |
Preservative |
|
E283 |
Potassium propionate |
Preservative |
|
E284 |
Boric acid |
Preservative |
|
E285 |
Sodium tetraborate; borax |
Preservative |
|
E290 |
Carbon dioxide |
Acidity regulator |
Adds the fizz to fizzy drinks. Also coolant, propellant |
E-Number |
Name |
Category |
Comments |
E296 |
Malic acid |
Acidity regulator |
Avoid for children |
E297 |
Fumaric Acid |
Acidity regulator |
No adverse effects recorded |
E300 |
Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) |
Antioxidant |
|
E301 |
Sodium ascorbate |
Antioxidant |
|
E302 |
Calcium ascorbate |
Antioxidant |
|
E303 |
Potassium ascorbate |
Antioxidant |
|
E304 |
Ascorbyl palmitate |
Antioxidant |
|
E306-9 |
Tocopherols (Vitamin E) |
Antioxidants |
|
E310 |
Propyl gallate |
Antioxidant |
Potential allergic reaction. Avoid for children |
E311 |
Octyl Gallate |
Antioxidant |
Potential allergic reaction. Avoid for children |
E312 |
Dodecyl gallate |
Antioxidant |
Potential allergic reaction. Avoid for children |
E317 |
Erythorbic acid |
Antioxidant |
No adverse effects recorded |
E318 |
Sodium erythorbin |
Antioxidant |
No adverse effects recorded |
E319 |
Butylhydroxinon |
Antioxidant |
Potential adverse effects. Avoid if possible |
E320 |
Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA) |
Antioxidant |
Potential allergic reaction. Avoid for children |
E321 |
Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) |
Antioxidant |
Potential allergic reaction. Avoid for children |
E322 |
Lecithin |
Emulsifier |
Egg yolk is source. Most from soya beans, therefore likely GM |
E325 |
Sodium lactate |
Antioxidant |
Avoid for children with lactose intolerance |
E326 |
Potassium lactate |
Acid regulator |
Avoid for children with lactose intolerance |
E327 |
Calcium lactate |
Acid regulator |
Avoid for children with lactose intolerance |
E328 |
Ammonium lactate |
Acid regulator, Antioxidant |
Avoid for children with lactose intolerance |
E329 |
Magnesium lactate |
Acid regulator, Antioxidant |
Avoid for children with lactose intolerance |
E330 |
Citric acid |
Antioxidant |
Yikes! Another real one. Occurs naturally in citrus fruit |
E331 |
Sodium citrates |
Antioxidant |
Salt of Citric. No adverse effects recorded |
E332 |
Potassium citrates |
Antioxidant |
Salt of Citric. No adverse effects recorded |
E333 |
Calcium Citrate |
Antioxidant |
Salt of Citric. No adverse effects recorded |
E334 |
Tartaric Acid |
Antioxidant |
No adverse effects recorded in small quantities |
E335 |
Sodium L-Tartrate |
Antioxidant |
No adverse effects recorded |
E336 |
Potassium L-Tartrate (Cream of Tartar) |
Antioxidant |
No adverse effects recorded |
E337 |
Sodium potassium tartrate |
Antioxidant |
No adverse effects recorded |
E338 |
Phosphoric acid |
Antioxidant |
No adverse effects recorded |
E339 |
Sodium phosphates |
Antioxidant |
No adverse effects if used cautiously |
E340 |
Potassium phosphates |
Antioxidant |
No adverse effects if used cautiously |
E341 |
Calcium Orthophosphates |
Anti-caking, firming agent |
No adverse effects recorded |
E343 |
Magnesium phosphates |
Anti-caking agent |
No adverse effects recorded |
E350 |
Sodium malates |
Acid regulator |
No adverse effects recorded |
E351 |
Potassium malate |
Acid regulator |
No adverse effects recorded |
E352 |
Calcium malates |
Acid regulator |
No adverse effects recorded |
E353 |
Metatartaric acid |
Emulsifier |
No adverse effects recorded |
E354 |
Calcium tartrate |
Emulsifier |
|
E355 |
Adipic acid |
Acid regulator |
No adverse effects recorded |
E357 |
Potassium adipate |
Acid regulator |
No adverse effects recorded |
E363 |
Succinic acid |
Acid regulator |
Banned in Australia and some other countries |
E365 |
Sodium fumarate |
Acid regulator |
No adverse effects recorded |
E366 |
Potassium fumarate |
Acid regulator |
No adverse effects recorded |
E367 |
Calcium fumarate |
Acid regulator |
No adverse effects recorded |
E370 |
I,4-Heptonolactone |
Acid regulator |
Banned in Australia and some other countries |
E375 |
Nicotinic acid, Niacin |
Colour Retention |
Vitamin B3 |
E380 |
Triammonium citrate |
Acid regulator |
No adverse effects if used cautiously |
E381 |
Ammonium ferric citrate |
Acid regulator |
|
E385 |
Calcium disodium (EDTA) |
Acid regulator |
Banned in Australia and some other countries |
E-Number |
Name |
Category |
Comments |
E400 |
Alginic acid |
Thickener, stabiliser, gelling agent, emulsifier |
No adverse effects recorded in small quantities |
E401 |
Sodium alginate |
As 400 |
No adverse effects recorded in small quantities |
E402 |
Potassium alginate |
As 400 |
No adverse effects recorded in small quantities |
E403 |
Ammonium alginate |
As 400 |
No adverse effects recorded in small quantities |
E404 |
Calcium alginate |
As 400 |
No adverse effects recorded in small quantities |
E405 |
Propylene glycol alginate |
As 400 |
No adverse effects recorded in small quantities |
E406 |
Agar |
As 400 |
A seaweed gum. Not digested, acts as source of dietary fibre. No adverse effects recorded in small quantities |
E407 |
Carrageenan (Irish Moss) |
Stabiliser, gelling agent, emulsifier |
Potential allergic reaction. Avoid for children |
E410 |
Locust bean gum (Carob seed gum) |
Stabiliser, gelling agent, emulsifier |
No adverse effects recorded in small quantities |
E412 |
Guar gum |
Thickener, stabiliser |
|
E413 |
Tragacanth |
Thickener, stabiliser |
Potential contact allergy reaction. Avoid if possible |
E414 |
Acacia (Gum arabic) |
Thickener, stabiliser |
Potential allergic reaction. Avoid if possible |
E415 |
Xanthan gum |
Emulsifier, stabiliser and thickener |
No adverse effects recorded |
E416 |
Karaya gum |
Stabiliser, thickener and emulsifier |
Potential allergic reaction. Avoid if possible. |
E417 |
Tara gum |
Thickener, stabiliser, gelling agent, emulsifier |
|
E418 |
Gellan gum |
Thickener, stabiliser, gelling agent, emulsifier |
|
E420 |
Sorbitol |
Sweetener, humectant -moisten |
Widely used in diabetic foods. Can cause gastric disturbances. |
E421 |
Mannitol |
Anti-caking agent, sweetener |
Potential dietary allergen. Avoid if possible |
E422 |
Glycerine, Glycerol |
Emulsifier, sweetener |
Potential dietary allergen. Some low calorie foods |
E432 |
Polysorbate 20 |
Emulsifier |
Banned in Australia and some other countries |
E433 |
Polysorbate 80 |
Emulsifier |
|
E434 |
Polysorbate 40 |
Emulsifier |
Banned in Australia and some other countries |
E435 |
Polysorbate 60 |
Emulsifier |
|
E436 |
Polysorbate 65 |
Emulsifier |
|
E440(A) |
Pectin |
Emulsifier, gelling agent |
Minimal adverse effects recorded |
E440(B) |
Amidated Pectin |
Emulsifier, gelling agent |
No adverse effects recorded |
E441 |
Gelatine |
Emulsifier, gelling agent |
Potential allergic reaction. Asthmatics avoid whenever possible |
E442 |
Ammonium phosphatides |
Emulsifier |
No adverse effects recorded |
E444 |
Sucrose acetate isobutyrate |
Emulsifier |
|
E445 |
Glycerol esters of wood rosins |
Emulsifier |
|
E450-2 |
Sodium and Potassium PolyPhosphate salts |
Emulsifier |
High levels can upset the mineral balance |
E460 |
Powdered cellulose |
Emulsifier |
Fibrous part of plant cell walls. No adverse effects recorded |
E461 |
Methyl cellulose |
Emulsifier |
Potential gastric disturbances. Some low calorie foods |
E463 |
Hydroxypropyl cellulose |
Emulsifier |
Banned in Australia and some other countries |
E464 |
Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose |
Emulsifier |
No adverse effects recorded |
E465 |
Ethylmethyl cellulose |
Emulsifier |
No adverse effects recorded |
E466 |
Sodium carboxy methyl cellulose |
Emulsifier |
No adverse effects recorded |
E469 |
carboxy methyl cellulose |
Emulsifier |
No adverse effects recorded |
E470 |
Sodium, Potassium and Calcium Salts of Fatty Acids |
Emulsifier |
Banned in Australia and some other countries |
E471 |
Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids |
Emulsifier |
No adverse effects recorded |
E472(A-F) |
esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids |
Emulsifiers |
No adverse effects recorded |
E473 |
Sucrose esters of fatty acids |
Emulsifier |
No adverse effects recorded |
E474 |
Sucroglycerides |
Emulsifier |
Banned in Australia and some other countries |
E475 |
Polyglycerol esters of fatty acids |
Emulsifier |
No adverse effects recorded |
E476 |
Polyglycerol polyricinoleate |
Emulsifier |
No adverse effects recorded |
E477 |
propylene glycol esters of fatty acids |
Emulsifier |
No adverse effects recorded |
E479B |
Thermally oxidized soya bean oil |
Emulsifier |
Likely to be G.M. crop |
E481 |
Sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate |
Emulsifier |
No adverse effects recorded |
E482 |
Calcium stearoyl-2-lactylate |
Emulsifier |
No adverse effects recorded |
E483 |
Stearyl tartrate |
Emulsifier |
Banned in some countries |
E491 |
Sorbitan mono-stearate |
Emulsifier |
No adverse effects recorded |
E492 |
Sorbitan tri-stearate |
Emulsifier |
No adverse effects recorded |
E493 |
Sorbitan mono-laurate |
Emulsifier |
Banned in some countries |
E494 |
Sorbitan mono-oleate |
Emulsifier |
Banned in Australia and some other countries |
E495 |
Sorbitan mono-palmitate |
Emulsifier |
Banned in Australia and some other countries |
E-Number |
Name |
Category |
Comments |
E500 |
Sodium carbonates (Bicarbonate of soda) |
Acidity regulator, Raising agent |
No adverse effects recorded in small quantities |
E501 |
Potassium carbonates |
Acidity regulator |
No adverse effects recorded |
E503 |
Ammonium carbonates |
Acidity regulator |
May irritate mucus membranes |
E504 |
Magnesium carbonates |
Acidity regulator, Anti-caking agent |
No adverse effects recorded. Often found in antacids and laxatives. |
E507 |
Hydrochloric acid |
Acid |
No adverse effects noted in small quantities |
E508 |
Potassium chloride |
Gelling agent |
Found in low sodium & salt products. |
E509 |
Calcium chloride |
Firming Agent |
No adverse effects recorded |
E510 |
Ammonium chloride |
Acidity regulator, Improving agent |
Best avoided by people with liver or kidney problems |
E511 |
Magnesium chloride |
Firming Agent |
One of the essential minerals |
E513 |
Sulphuric acid |
Acid |
Banned in some countries |
E514 |
Sodium sulphates |
Acidity regulator |
Can upset the body's water balance |
E515 |
Potassium sulphates |
Seasoning |
No adverse effects recorded |
E516 |
Calcium sulphate |
Sequestrant, Improving agent |
No adverse effects recorded |
E517 |
Ammonium sulphate |
Improving agent |
|
E518 |
Magnesium sulphate (Epsom salts) |
Acidity regulator |
A laxative. No adverse effects recorded in small quantities |
E519 |
Copper sulphate |
Preservative |
One of the essential minerals |
E520 |
Aluminium sulphate |
Firming Agent |
|
E521 |
Aluminium sodium sulphate |
Firming Agent |
|
E522 |
Aluminium potassium sulphate |
Acidity regulator |
|
E524 |
Sodium hydroxide |
Acidity regulator |
Banned in some countries |
E525 |
Potassium hydroxide |
Acidity regulator |
Banned in some countries |
E526 |
Calcium hydroxide |
Acidity regulator |
No adverse effects recorded in small quantities |
E527 |
Ammonium hydroxide |
Acidity regulator |
Banned in some countries |
E528 |
Magnesium hydroxide |
Acidity regulator |
Banned in some countries |
E529 |
Calcium oxide |
Acidity regulator |
No adverse effects recorded |
E530 |
Magnesium oxide |
Anti-caking agent |
Banned in some countries |
E535 |
Sodium ferrocyanide |
Anti-caking agent |
No adverse effects recorded |
E536 |
Potassium ferrocyanide |
Anti-caking agent |
|
E540 |
Di-calcium di-phosphate |
Acidity regulator |
Banned in Australia and some other countries |
E541 |
Sodium aluminium phosphate |
Emulsifier, Raising agent |
Banned in Australia and some other countries |
E542 |
Bone phosphate |
Anti-caking agent |
Animal origin. No adverse effects recorded |
E544 |
Calcium polyphosphate |
Emulsifier |
Banned in Australia and some other countries |
E545 |
Ammonium polyphosphate |
Emulsifier |
Banned in Australia and some other countries |
E551 |
Silicon dioxide (Silica) |
Anti-caking agent |
Derived from sand. No adverse effects recorded in food use |
E552 |
Calcium silicate |
Anti-caking agent |
Antacid. No adverse effects recorded |
E553(A) |
Magnesium silicates |
Anti-caking agent |
Banned in Australia |
E553(B) |
Talc |
Anti-caking agent |
Potential adverse reaction. Avoid if possible. |
E554 |
Sodium aluminium silicate |
Anti-caking agent |
|
E556 |
Calcium aluminium silicate |
Anti-caking agent |
|
E558 |
Bentonite |
Anti-caking agent |
No adverse effects recorded |
E559 |
Aluminium silicate (Kaolin) |
Anti-caking agent |
No adverse effects recorded |
E570 |
Stearic acid (Fatty acid) |
Anti-caking agent |
No adverse effects recorded |
E572 |
Magnesium stearate |
Anti-caking agent |
No adverse effects recorded |
E575 |
Glucono Delta-lactone |
Anti-caking agent, Sequestrant |
No adverse effects recorded |
E576 |
Sodium gluconate |
Sequestrant |
Banned in Australia |
E577 |
Potassium gluconate |
Sequestrant |
No adverse effects recorded |
E578 |
Calcium gluconate |
Firming Agent |
No adverse effects recorded |
E579 |
Ferrous gluconate |
Colouring |
No adverse effects recorded |
E585 |
Ferrous lactate |
Colouring |
No adverse effects recorded |
E-Number |
Name |
Category |
Comments |
E620 |
L-Glutamic acid |
Flavour enhancer |
Potential allergic reaction. Avoid for children |
E621 |
Monosodium glutamate |
Flavour enhancer |
Potential allergic reaction. Avoid for children |
E622 |
Monopotassium glutamate |
Flavour enhancer |
Potential allergic reaction. Avoid wherever possible |
E623 |
Calcium glutamate |
Flavour enhancer |
Potential allergic reaction. Avoid if possible |
E624 |
Mono ammonium glutamate |
Flavour enhancer |
Potential allergic reaction. Avoid if possible |
E625 |
Magnesium di glutamate |
Flavour enhancer |
Potential allergic reaction. Avoid if possible |
E627 |
Disodium guanylate |
Flavour enhancer |
Avoid for children |
E631 |
Disodium inosinate |
Flavour enhancer |
Avoid for children |
E635 |
Disodium 5'-ribonucleotides |
Flavour enhancer |
Banned in some countries |
E636 |
Maltol |
Flavour enhancer |
|
E637 |
Ethyl maltol |
Flavour enhancer |
|
E640 |
Glycine and its sodium salt |
Flavour enhancer |
|
E650 |
Zinc acetate |
Flavour enhancer |
|
E-Number |
Name |
Category |
Comments |
E900 |
Dimethyl polysiloxane |
Anti-foaming agent |
No adverse effects recorded |
E901 |
Beeswax, white and yellow |
Glazing agent |
Potential allergic reaction. Avoid if possible |
E903 |
Carnauba wax |
Glazing agent |
Potential allergic reaction. Avoid if possible |
E904 |
Shellac |
Glazing agent |
Potential allergic contact reaction. Avoid if possible |
E905 |
Microcrystalline wax (Paraffins) |
Glazing agent |
Potential for gastric disturbances. |
E907 |
Crystalline wax |
Glazing agent |
Banned in some countries |
E920 |
L-cysteine hydrochlorides |
Improving agent |
No adverse effects recorded |
E924 |
Potassium bromate |
Improving agent |
Potential dietary allergen. Avoid if possible |
E925 |
Chlorine |
Preservative, Bleach |
Known carcinogen. Used in drinking water to 'purify' it |
E926 |
Chlorine dioxide |
Preservative, Bleach |
|
E927 |
Azodi carbonamide |
Improving agent |
Banned in Australia |
E928 |
Benzole peroxide |
Improving agent |
Potential allergic reaction. Asthmatics avoid whenever possible |
E938 |
Argon |
Packaging gas |
|
E939 |
Helium |
Packaging gas |
|
E941 |
Nitrogen |
Packaging gas |
|
E942 |
Nitrogen oxide |
Propellant |
|
E943A |
Butane |
Propellant |
|
E944 |
Propane |
Propellant |
|
E948 |
Oxygen |
Packaging gas |
|
E949 |
Hydrogen |
|
|
E950 |
Acesulphane potassium |
Sweetener |
|
E951 |
Aspartame |
Sweetener |
Potential allergic reaction. Avoid wherever possible |
E952 |
Cyclamic acid |
Sweetener |
Possible carcinogen. Banned in the USA and UK |
E954 |
Saccharins |
Sweetener |
|
E957 |
Thaumatin |
Sweetener |
|
E965 |
Maltitol, Hydrogenated glucose syrup |
Sweetener, Humectant |
|
E967 |
Xylitol |
Sweetener |
|
E999 |
Quillaia extract |
Foaming Agent |
|
E1100 |
Amylase |
Stabiliser |
|
E1103 |
Invertase |
Stabiliser |
|
E1200 |
Polydextrose |
Stabiliser |
|
E1201 |
Polyvinyl pyrrolidone |
Stabiliser |
No adverse effects recorded. Used as tablet coating |
E1202 |
Polyvinyl polypyrrolidone |
Stabiliser |
No adverse effects recorded |
E1400-51 |
Starches |
Stabiliser, Thickening agent |
No adverse effects recorded |
E1505 |
Triethyl citrate |
Foam Stabiliser |
|
E1510 |
Ethanol |
|
Alcohol |
E1518 |
Glycerol triacetate |
Humectant |
|
E1520 |
Propylene glycol |
Humectant |
|
Remember: You are what you eat! Choose carefully.
On a personal note: As a baby, my son had an allergy to Tartrazine and Sunset Yellow which was in certain drinks that were given to him in his bottle. He suffered with raging red, sore genitals and backside areas, red sores around his lips and nose, a degree of hyperactivity that saw him loudly crying all the time. The doctors had no idea what was wrong and so sent him for allergy tests. Once we took him off orange juice and other products that contained artificial colours and bubbles (soft drinks), his improvement was total, and we had no more problems.
As usual, the UK is about a mile behind the rest of the world with it's policy on food additives. Even known problem additives which are now banned in several other countries are freely used in the UK and in our shop bought children's foods. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) shrugs it's defiant shoulders and leaves it up to us to sort out for ourselves, preferring to wait for the results of yet more research. Don't bother! If you or your child has asthma, is hyperactive, behaves like a little monster, if you have arthritis or any allergic reactions, internal or external, check all the foods in your cupboard against this list. You may be surprised at what you discover.
Please print and distribute freely.
Please share this page with your friends. Thank you.
|