Number

Name

Comments

E100#

Cur cumin

orange-yellow colour; derived from the root of the curcuma (turmeric) plant, but can be artificially produced; used in cheese, margarine, baked sweets and fish fingers

E101#

Riboflavin, Riboflavin-5'-phosphate

'Vitamin B2' and colour; occurs naturally in greenveges, eggs, milk, liver and kidney; used in margarine and cheese

E102

Tartrazine

FD&C Yellow No.5; known to provoke asthma attacks (though the US FDA** do not recognise this) and urticaria (nettle rash) in children (the US FDA** estimates 1:10 000); also linked to thyroid tumours, chromosomal damage, urticaria (hives) and hyperactivity; tartrazine sensitivity is also linked to aspirin sensitivity; used to colour drinks, sweets, jams, cereals, snack foods, canned fish, packaged soups; banned in Norway and Austria

E104

Quinoline Yellow

FD&C Yellow No.10; used in lipsticks hair products, colognes; also in a wide range of medications; cause dermatitis; banned in USA and Norway

E107

Yellow 7G

yellow colour; the HACSG* recommends to avoid it; people who suffer Asthma may also show an allergic reaction to it; typical products are soft drinks; banned in Australia and USA

E110#

Sunset Yellow FCF, Orange Yellow S

FD&C Yellow No.6; used in cereals, bakery, sweets, snack foods, ice cream, drinks and canned fish; synthetic; also in many medications including, Polaramine, Ventolin syrup; side effects are urticaria (hives), rhinitis (runny nose), nasal congestion, allergies, hyperactivity, kidney tumours, chromosomal damage, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, indigestion, distaste for food; seen increased incidence of tumours in animals; banned in Norway

E120#

Cochineal, Carminic acid, Carmines

red colour; made from insects; rarely used; the HASCG* recommends to avoid it

E122

Azorubine, Carmoisine

red colour; coal tar derivative; can produce bad reactions in asthmatics and people allergic to aspirin; typical products are confectionary, marzipan, jelly crystals; banned in Sweden, USA, Austria and Norway

E123

Amaranth

FD&C Red No.2; derived from the small herbaceous plant of the same name; used in cake mixes, fruit-flavoured fillings, jelly crystals; can provoke asthma, eczema and hyperactivity; it caused birth defects and foetal deaths in some animal tests, possibly also cancer; banned in the USA, Russia, Austria and Norway and other countries

E124

Ponceau 4R, Cochineal Red A

FD&C Red No.4; synthetic coal tar and azo dye, carcinogen in animals, can produce bad reactions in asthmatics and people allergic to aspirin; banned in USA & Norway

E127

Erythrosine

FD&C Red No.3; red colour used in cherries, canned fruit, custard mix, sweets, bakery, snack foods; can cause sensitivity to light; can increase thyroid hormone levels and lead to hyperthyroidism, was shown to cause thyroid cancer in rats in a study in 1990; banned in January 1990, but not recalled by the US FDA**; banned in Norway

E128

Red 2G

Banned in Australia and many other places except UK

E129

Allura red AC

FD&C Red No.40; Orange-red colour used in sweets, drinks and condiments, medications and cosmetics, synthetic; introduced in the early eighties to replace amaranth which was considered not safe due to conflicting test results; allura red has also been connected with cancer in mice; banned in Denmark, Belgium, France, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Austria and Norway

E131

Patent blue V

Banned in Australia, USA and Norway

E132#

Indigotine, Indigo carmine

FD&C Blue No.2, commonly added to tablets and capsules; also used in ice cream, sweets, baked goods, confectionary, biscuits, synthetic coal tar derivative; may cause nausea, vomiting, high blood pressure, skin rashes, breathing problems and other allergic reactions. Banned in Norway

E133

Brilliant blue FCF

FD&C Blue Dye No.1; used in dairy products, sweets and drinks, synthetic usually occurring as aluminium lake (solution) or ammonium salt; banned in Belgium, France, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Austria, Norway

E140

Chlorophylis, Chlorophyllins

green colour occurs naturally in all plants; used for dyeing waxes and oils, used in medicines and cosmetics

E141

Copper complexes of chloropyll and chlorophyllins

olive colour, no adverse effects are known

E142

Green S

green colour; synthetic coal tar derivative; used in canned peas, mint jelly and sauce, packet bread crumbs and cake mixes; banned inSweden, USA and Norway

E150(a)

Plain caramel

dark brown colour made from sucrose; the HACSG* recommends to avoid it. used in oyster, soy, fruit and canned sauces, beer, whiskey, biscuits, pickles

E150(b)

Caustic sulphite caramel

see E150(a)

E150(c)

Ammonia caramel

see E150(a)

E150(d)

Sulphite ammonia caramel

see E150(a)

E151

Brilliant Black BN, Black PN

coloor; coal tar derivative; used in brown sauces, blackcurrant cake mixes; banned in Denmark, Belgium, France, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Austria, USA, Norway

E153#

Vegetable carbon

black colour, charcoal pigment; used in jams, jelly crystals, liquorice; only the vegetable derived variety permitted in Australia, banned in the United States

E154

Brown FK

banned in USA

E155

Brown HT (Chocolate)

brown colour, coal tar and azo dye; used in chocolate cake mixes; can produce bad reactions in asthmatics and people allergic to aspirin; also known to induce skin sensitivity; banned in Denmark, Belgium, France, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Austria, USA, Norway

E160(a)#

Carotene, alpha-, beta-, gamma-

orange-yellow colour; human body converts it to 'Vitamin A' in the liver, found in carrots and other yellow or orange fruits and vegetables

E160(b)#

Annatto (Arnatto, Annato), bixin, norbixin

red colour; derived from a tree (Bixa orellana); used as a body paint, fabric dye, digestive aid and expectorant; used to dye cheese, butter, margarine, cereals, snack foods, soaps, textiles and varnishes; known to cause urticaria (nettle rash), the HACSG* recommends to avoid it

E160(c)#

Paprika extract, capsanthin, capsorubin

avoid it, banned in some countries

E160(d)#

Lycopene

red coloured carotenoid found in tomatoes and pink grapefruit, can cause decreasing risk of cancer

E160(e)#

Beta-apo-8'-carotenal (C 30)

orange colour, no adverse effects are known

E160(f)#

Ethyl ester of beta-apo-8'-carotenic acid (C 30)

orange colour, no adverse effects are known

E161(b)

Xanthophylls - Lutein

yellow colour derived from plants, naturally found in green leaves, marigolds and egg yolks

E161(g)#

Xanthophylls - Canthaxanthin

yellow colour possibly derived from animal sources (retinol); the pigment is found in some mushrooms, crustacea, fish, flamingo feathers

E162

Beetroot Red, Betanin

purple colour derived from beets; no adverse effects are known

E163

Anthocyanins

violet colour matter of flowers and plants; seems safe

E170#

Calcium carbonate

mineral salt, used in toothpastes, white paint and cleaning powders; may be derived from rock mineral or animal bones; sometimes used to deacidify wines and firm canned fruit and veg.; toxic at 'high doses'

E171

Titanium dioxide

white colour used in toothpaste and white paint, pollutes waterways; no adverse effects are known

E172

Iron oxides and hydroxides

black, yellow, red colour used in salmon and shrimp pastes; toxic at 'high doses'

E173

Aluminium

avoid it, banned in some countries

E174

Silver

avoid it, banned in some countries

E175

Gold

avoid it, banned in some countries

E180

Latolrubine BK

avoid it, banned in some countries

E181

Tannic acid, tannins

clarifying agent in alcohol; derived from the nutgalls and twigs of oak trees; occurs naturally in tea

Number

Name

Comments

E200

Sorbic acid

either obtained from berries or synthesised from ketene; possible skin irritant

E201

Sodium sorbate

no known adverse effects

E202

Potassium sorbate

no known adverse effects

E203

Calcium sorbate

no known adverse effects

E210#

Benzoic acid

also known as flowers of benzoin, phenlycarboxylic acid, carboxybenzene; added to alcoholic beverages, baked goods, cheeses, gum, condiments, frozen dairy, relishes, soft sweets, cordials and sugar substitutes; used in cosmetics, as an antiseptic in many cough medications and an antifungal in ointments; can cause asthma, especially in those dependant on steroid asthma medications, is also reputed to cause neurological disorders and to react with sulphur bisulphite (222), shown to provoke hyperactivity in children; obtained from Benzoin, a resin exuded by trees native to Asia

E211

Sodium benzoate

used as antiseptic, as a food preservative and to disguise taste, as of poor-quality food; orange soft drinks contain a high amount of it, upto 25mg per 250ml; also in milk and meat products, relishes and condiments, baked goods and lollies; used in many oral medications including Actifed, Phenergan and Tylenol; known to causes nettle rash and aggravate asthma

E212

Potassium benzoate

people with a history of allergies may show allergic reactions. for using see 210

E213

Calcium benzoate

see 212

E214

Ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate

avoid it, banned in some countries

E215

Sodium ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate

avoid it, banned in some countries

E216

Propyl p-hydroxybenzoate

possible contact allergen

E217

Sodium propyl p-hydroxybenzoate

avoid it, banned in some countries

E218

Methyl p-hydroxybenzoate

allergic reactions possible, mainly affecting the skin

E219

Sodium methyl p-hydroxybenzoate

avoid it, banned in some countries

E220

Sulphur dioxide

derived from coal tar; all sulphur drugs are toxic and restricted in use (in USA, FDA** prohibits their use on raw fruits and vegetables), produced by combustion of sulphur or gypsum; known to provoke asthma attacks and difficult to metabolise for those with impaired kidney function, also destroys vitamin B1; typical products are beer, soft drinks, dried fruit, juices, cordials, wine, vinegar, potato products

E221

Sodium sulphite

decontaminating agent used in fresh orange juice; see 220

E222

Sodium hydrogen sulphite

see 220

E223

Sodium metabisulphite

treating agent, see 220

E224

Potassium metabisulphite

see 220

E225

Potassium sulphite

see 220

E226

Calcium sulphite

avoid it, banned in some countries

E227

Calcium hydrogen sulphite

avoid it, banned in some countries

E228

Potassium hydrogen sulphite

see 220

E230

Biphenyl, Diphenyl

banned in some countries; can be used for agricultural purposes; typical products are citrus fruit

E231

Orthophenyl phenol

banned in some countries; can be used for agricultural purposes; typical products are pears, carrots, peaches, plums, prunes, sweet potatoe, citrus fruit, pineapples, tomatoes, peppers, cherries, nectarines

E232

Sodium orthophenyl phenol

see 231

E233

Thiabendazole

banned in some countries, can be used for agricultural purposes, typical products are citrus fruits, apples, pears, potatoes, bananas, mushrooms, meat, milk

E234

Nisin

antibiotic derived from bacteria; found in beer, processed cheese products, tomato paste

E235

Natamycin

mould inhibitor derived from bacteria; sometimes used medically to treat candidiasis; can cause nausea, vomiting, anorexia, diarrhoea and skin irritation;.typical products are meat, cheese

E236

Formic acid

avoid it, banned in some countries

E237

Sodium formate

avoid it, banned in some countries

E238

Calcium formate

avoid it, banned in some countries

E239

Hexamethylene tetramine

avoid it, banned in some countries

E249

Potassium nitrite

colour fixative and curing agent for meat; nitrites can effect the body's ability to carry oxygen, resulting in shortness of breath, dizziness and headaches; potential carcinogen; not permitted in foods for infant and young children

E250

Sodium nitrite

may provoke hyperactivity and other adverse reactions, potentially carcinogenic, restricted in many countries, can combine with chemicals in stomach to form nitrosamine, the HACSG* recommends to avoid it

E251

Sodium nitrate

also used in the manufacture of nitric acid, as a fertiliser and in fermented meat products (see 250)

E252#

Potassium nitrate

may be derived from waste animal or vegetable matter; used in gunpowder, explosives and fertilisers, and in the preservation of meat; may provoke hyperactivity and other adverse reactions; potentially carcinogenic; restricted in many countries (see 249)

E260

Acetic acid

main component of vinegar, synthetically produced from wood fibres; used in pickles, chutneys, and sauces

E261

Potassium acetate

food acid; should be avoided by people with impaired kidney function; typical products are sauces, pickles

E262

Sodium acetate, Sodium diacetate

food acid, acidity regulator; no known adverse effects

E263

Calcium acetate

food acid, acidity regulator; by product in the manufacture of wood alcohol; used to make acetic acid (vinegar) and in the production of dyers mordants

E264

Ammonium acetate

can cause nausea and vomiting

E270#

Lactic acid

food acid, acidity regulator; produced by heating and fermenting carbohydrates in milk whey, potatoes, cornstarch or molasses; difficult for babies to metabolise; used in sweets, dressings, soft drinks (sometimes beer) infant formulas and confectionary

E280

Propionic acid

all propionates are thought to be linked with migraine headaches; propionates occur naturally in fermented foods, human perspiration and ruminants digestive tract, also can be derived commercially from ethylene and carbon monoxide or propionaldehyde or natural gas or fermented wood pulp; produced when bacteria decompose fibre; commonly used in bread and flour products;

E281

Sodium propionate

may be linked to migraines, typical products are flour products

E282

Calcium propionate

see 281

E283

Potassium propionate

see 281

E290

Carbon dioxide

propellant, coolant, derived from lime manufacture; may increase the effect of alcohol; typical products are wine, soft drinks, confectionary

E296

Malic acid

derived from fruit or synthetic; infants and young children should avoid it

E297

Fumaric acid

derived from plants of the genus Fumaria esp. F.officianalis or from the fermentation of glucose with fungi; can be used to flavour, acidify, as an antioxidant or raising agent used in soft drinks and cake mixes