thumb|right|upright|A solution of E101 [[riboflavin (also known as vitamin B<sub>2</sub>)]]
thumb|right|Crystals of E621 [[monosodium glutamate (MSG), a flavour enhancer]]
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 (EU) and European Free Trade Association (EFTA). Commonly found on food labels, their safety assessment and approval are the responsibility of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). 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 (INS) 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(s)" 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 (and the number is a synonym for the chemical component), e.g. vitamin C (E300) and lycopene (E160d), 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 (E715) 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 (E250) is toxic. Sulfuric acid (E513) is caustic.
Classification by numeric range
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! E number range
! Subranges
! Description
|-
!rowspan="7"| 100–199 (full list)<br />Colours
| style="text-align:center;"| 100–107 || yellows
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 110–111 || oranges
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 120–129 || reds
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 130–139 || blues and violets
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 140–149 || greens
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 150–159 || browns and blacks
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 160–199 || gold and others
|-
!rowspan="9"| 200–299 (full list)<br />Preservatives
| style="text-align:center;"| 200–209 || sorbates
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 210–219 || benzoates
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 220–229 || sulfites
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 230–239 || phenols and formates (methanoates)
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 240–259 || nitrates
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 260–269 || acetates (ethanoates)
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 270–279 || lactates
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 280–289 || propionates (propanoates)
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 290–299 || others
|-
!rowspan="10"| 300–399 (full list)<br />Antioxidants and acidity regulators
| style="text-align:center;"| 300–305 || ascorbates (vitamin C)
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 306–309 || Tocopherol (vitamin E)
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 310–319 || gallates and erythorbates
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 320–329 || lactates
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 330–337 || citrates and tartrates
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 338–343 || phosphates
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 344–345 || citrates
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 349–359 || malates and adipates
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 360–369 || succinates and fumarates
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 370–399 || others
|-
!rowspan="9"| 400–499 (full list)<br />Thickeners, stabilisers and emulsifiers
| style="text-align:center;"| 400–409 || alginates
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 410–419 || natural gums
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 420–429 || other natural agents
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 430–439 || polyoxyethene compounds
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 440–449 || natural emulsifiers
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 450–459 || phosphates
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 460–469 || cellulose compounds
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 470–489 || fatty acids and compounds
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 490–499 || others
|-
!rowspan="7"| 500–599 (full list)<br />pH regulators and anti-caking agents
| style="text-align:center;"| 500–509 || mineral acids and bases
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 510–519 || chlorides and sulfates
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 520–529 || sulfates and hydroxides
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 530–549 || alkali metal compounds
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 550–559 || silicates
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 570–579 || stearates and gluconates
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 580–599 || others
|-
!rowspan="3"| 600–699 (full list)<br />Flavour enhancers
| style="text-align:center;"| 620–629 || glutamates and guanylates
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 630–639 || inosinates
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 640–649 || others
|-
!| 700–799 (full list)<br />Antibiotics
| style="text-align:center;"| 700–713 ||
|-
!rowspan="6"| 900–999 (full list)<br />Glazing agents, gases and sweeteners
| style="text-align:center;"| 900–909 || waxes
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 910–919 || synthetic glazes
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 920–929 || improving agents
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 930–949 || packaging gases
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 950–969 || sweeteners
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 990–999 || foaming agents
|-
! 1000–1599 (full list)<br />Additional additives
| style="text-align:center;"| 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 (particularly in the E400–499 range) 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)<span class="anchor" id="E100–E199"></span>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Code
!Name(s)
!Colour
!Status
|-
|E100
|Curcumin (from turmeric)
|Yellow-orange
|Approved in the EU. Approved in the US.
|-
|E101
|Riboflavin (Vitamin B<sub>2</sub>), formerly called lactoflavin
|Yellow-orange
|Approved in the EU.
|Red-brown
|
|-
|E104
|Quinoline Yellow WS
|Dull or greenish yellow
||Restricted use approved in the EU.
|-
|E106
|Riboflavin-5-Sodium Phosphate
|Yellow
|
|-
|E107
|Yellow 2G
|Yellow
|
|-
|E110
|Sunset Yellow FCF (Orange Yellow S, FD&C Yellow 6)
|Yellow-orange
|Restricted use approved in the EU.<br />Products in the EU require warnings and its use is being phased out.
|-
|E122
|Carmoisine (azorubine)
|Red to maroon
||Approved in the EU.
|-
|E124
|Ponceau 4R (Cochineal Red A, Brilliant Scarlet 4R)
|Pink
|Restricted use approved in the EU.
|-
|E126
|Ponceau 6R
|Red
|
|-
|E127
|Erythrosine (FD&C Red 3)
|Pink
|Approved in the EU.
|-
|E128
|Red 2G
|Red or pink
|Not approved in the EU.<br />Undergoing a voluntary phase out in the UK.<br />Approved in the US.
|-
|E154
|Brown FK (kipper brown)
|Brown
|Previously approved in the EU for dyeing kippers only: approval withdrawn November 2011.
|-
|E155
|Brown HT (chocolate brown HT)
|Brown
|Approved in the EU. due to the identification of potential carcinogenic effects.<br />Approved in the US.
|-
|E250
|Sodium nitrite
|preservative
|Approved in the EU.
|-
|E261
|Potassium acetate (preservative)
|acidity regulator
|Approved in the EU.
|-
|E265
|Dehydroacetic acid
|preservative
|
|-
|E266
|Sodium dehydroacetate
|preservative
|
|-
|E267
|Buffered vinegar
|preservative
|Approved in the EU.
|-
|E270
|Lactic acid (preservative)
|antioxidant
|Approved in the EU.
|-
|E301
|Sodium ascorbate
|antioxidant
|Approved in the EU.
|-
|E323
|Anoxomer
|antioxidant
|
|-
|E324
|Ethoxyquin
|antioxidant
|
|-
|E325
|Sodium lactate
|acidity regulator
|Approved in the EU.
|-
|E345
|Magnesium citrate
|acidity regulator
|
|-
|E349
|Ammonium malate
|acidity regulator
|
|-
|E350
|Sodium malates<br />(i) Sodium malate<br />(ii) Sodium hydrogen malate
|acidity regulator
|Approved in the EU.
|-
|E399
|Calcium lactobionate
|
|
|}
E400–E499 (thickeners, stabilisers, emulsifiers) <span class="anchor" id="E400–E499"></span>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Code
!Name(s)
!Purpose
!width=250|Status
|-
|E400
|Alginic acid (thickener) (stabiliser) (gelling agent)
|emulsifier
|Approved in the EU.
|-
|E421
|Mannitol (anti-caking agent)
|sweetener
|Approved in the EU.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Code
!Name(s)
!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
|
|}
E900–E999 (glazing agents, gases and sweeteners) <span class="anchor" id="E900–E999"></span>
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%;"
|-
!width=8%|Code
!width=40%|Name(s)
!width=20%|Purpose
!width=32%|Status
|-
|E900
|Dimethyl polysiloxane (anti-foaming agent)
|anti-caking agent
|Approved in the EU.
|-
|E921
|L-cystine
|improving agent
|
|-
|E922
|Potassium persulfate
|improving agent
|
|-
|E923
|Ammonium persulfate
|improving agent
|
|-
|E924
|Potassium bromate
|improving agent
| Banned in the EU; genotoxic carcinogen
|-
|E924b
|Calcium bromate
|improving agent
|
|-
|E925
|Chlorine
|preservative, bleach, improving agent
|
|-
|E926
|Chlorine dioxide (preservative)
|bleach
|
|-
|E927a
|Azodicarbonamide
|improving agent
|identified as a Substance of Very High Concern in EU.
|-
|E927b
|Carbamide (urea)
|improving agent
|Approved in the EU.
|-
|E961
|Neotame
|sweetener
|Approved in 2010
|
|Approved in 2010