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 297 | Fumaric acid | acidity regulators | Yes |
E 300 | Ascorbic acid | antioxidants | Yes |
E 301 | Sodium ascorbate | antioxidants | Yes |
E 302 | Calcium ascorbate | antioxidants | Yes |
E 304 | Fatty acid esters of ascorbic acid | antioxidants | Yes |
E 306 | Tocopherols | antioxidants | Yes |
E 307 | Alpha-tocopherol | antioxidants | Yes |
E 308 | Gamma-tocopherol | antioxidants | Yes |
E 309 | Delta-tocopherol | antioxidants | Yes |
E 310 | Propyl gallate | antioxidants | Yes |
E 311 | Octyl gallate | antioxidants | Yes |
E 312 | Dodecyl gallate | antioxidants | Yes |
E 315 | Erythorbic acid | antioxidants | Yes |
E 316 | Sodium erythorbate | antioxidants | Yes |
E 319 | Tertiary-butyl hydroquinone (TBHQ) | antioxidants | Yes |
E 320 | Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) | antioxidants | Yes |
E 321 | Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) | antioxidants | Yes |
E 322 | Lecithins | antioxidants, emulsifiers | Yes |
E 325 | Sodium lactate | antioxidants, flavour enhancers, bulking agents, acidity regulators, humectants | Yes |
E 326 | Potassium lactate | antioxidants, acidity regulators | Yes |