Additives are commonly supplemented to food as they for example extend shelf life, replace or restore colour or give food a sweet taste without use of beet sugar. Additives used in each product shall be declared on its packaging. Each additive must be stated by its full name or an international E code in a descending sequence according to the amount contained in the food. All states of the European Union use the same E code numbering system. On food labels must be in addition to the name or code of E given the name of the category to which the additive belongs. Some additives fall by purpose into more than one category.
| Code | Material | Categories | CEFF approved |
|---|---|---|---|
| E 200 | Sorbic acid | preservatives |
 No
|
| E 202 | Potassium sorbate | preservatives |
No
|
| E 203 | Calcium sorbate | preservatives |
No
|
| E 210 | Benzoic acid | preservatives |
No
|
| E 211 | Sodium benzoate | preservatives |
No
|
| E 212 | Potassium benzoate | preservatives |
No
|
| E 213 | Calcium benzoate | preservatives |
No
|
| E 214 | Ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate | preservatives |
No
|
| E 215 | Sodium ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate | preservatives |
No
|
| E 218 | Methyl p-hydroxybenzoate | preservatives |
No
|
| E 219 | Sodium methyl p-hydroxybenzoate | preservatives |
No
|
| E 220 | Sulphur dioxide | antioxidants, preservatives |
No
|
| E 221 | Sodium sulphite | antioxidants, preservatives |
No
|
| E 222 | Sodium hydrogen sulphite | antioxidants, preservatives |
No
|
| E 223 | Sodium metabisulphite | antioxidants, preservatives |
No
|
| E 224 | Potassium metabisulphite | antioxidants, preservatives |
No
|
| E 226 | Calcium sulphite | antioxidants, preservatives |
No
|
| E 227 | Calcium hydrogen sulphite | antioxidants, preservatives |
No
|
| E 228 | Potassium hydrogen sulphite | antioxidants, preservatives |
No
|
| E 234 | Nisin | preservatives |
No
|