List of food additives

The following is a list of food additives as organized by the Codex Alimentarius Committee. The International Numbering System numbers below (INS #) are assigned by the committee to allow each food additive to be uniquely identified.

In the European Union, approved food additives are written with a prefix of 'E'. Australia and New Zealand have their own set of approved additives, which are not written with a prefix letter. In the table below, food additives approved for Europe are listed with an E, see list of E number, and those approved for Australia and New Zealand with an A.

INS #	Approvals		Names	Type

100	A	E	turmeric, curcumin	colour (yellow and orange)
101	A	E	riboflavin, vitamin B2	colour (yellow and orange)
102	A	E	tartrazine	colour (yellow and orange) (FDA: FD&C Yellow #5)
103	A		alkanet	colour (red)
104	A	E	Quinoline yellow	colour (yellow and orange) (FDA: D&C Yellow #10)
107		E	Yellow 2G	colour (yellow and orange)
110	A	E	Sunset Yellow FCF	colour (yellow and orange) (FDA: FD&C Yellow #6)
120	A	E	cochineal, carmines	colour (red)
121			Citrus red 2	colour (red)
122	A	E	azorubine, carmoisine	colour (red) (FDA: Ext D&C Red #10)
123		E	amaranth	colour (red) (FDA: [DELISTED] Red #2)
124	A	E	Brilliant Scarlet 4R, Ponceau 4R	colour (FDA: Ext D&C Red #8)
125			Ponceau SX	colour
127		E	erythrosine	colour (red) (FDA: FD&C Red #3)
128		E	Red 2G	colour
129	A	E	Allura red AC	colour (FDA: FD&C Red #40)
131		E	Patent blue V	colour (blue)
132	A	E	indigo carmine, indigotine	colour (blue) (FDA: FD&C Blue #2)
133	A	E	Brilliant blue FCF	colour (FDA: FD&C Blue #1)
140	A	E	chlorophylls	colour (green)
141	A	E	copper chlorophylls	colour (green)
142	A	E	Green S	colour (green)
143	A	E	Fast green FCF	colour (FDA: FD&C Green #3)
150a	A	E	caramel I - plain	colour (brown and black)
150b	A	E	caramel II - caustic sulfite process	colour (brown and black)
150c	A	E	caramel III - ammonia process	colour (brown and black)
150d	A	E	caramel IV - ammonia sulfite process	colour (brown and black)
151	A	E	Brilliant Black BN	colour (brown and black)
153	A	E	vegetable carbon, carbon black	colour (brown and black)
154		E	Brown FK	colour (brown and black)
155	A	E	Chocolate Brown HT	colour
160a	A	E	carotenes	colour
160b		E	annatto, bixin, norbixin	colour
160c	A	E	paprika extract, capsanthin	colour
160d	A	E	lycopene	colour
160e	A	E	beta-apo-8'-carotenal	colour
160f	A	E	beta-apo-8'-carotenic acid ester	colour
161a	A		flavoxanthin	colour
161b	A	E	lutein	colour
161c	A		kryptoxanthin	colour
161d	A		rubixanthin	colour
161e	A		violoxanthin	colour
161f	A		rhodoxanthin	colour
161g		E	canthaxanthin	colour
162	A	E	beet red	colour
163	A	E	anthocyanins	colour
164	A		Saffron, crocetin and crocin
170		E	calcium carbonates	colour, anticaking agent, stabiliser
171	A	E	titanium dioxide	colour
172	A	E	iron oxides and hydroxides	colour
173		E	aluminium	colour
174		E	silver	colour
175		E	gold	colour
180		E	litholrubine, latolrubine	colour
181		E	tannins	colour, emulsifier, stabiliser, thickener
182			orchil	colour
200		E	sorbic acid	preservative
201			sodium sorbate	preservative
202		E	potassium sorbate	preservative
203		E	calcium sorbate	preservative
209			heptyl p-hydroxybenzoate	preservative
210		E	benzoic acid	preservative
211	A	E	sodium benzoate	preservative
212	A	E	potassium benzoate	preservative
213	A	E	calcium benzoate	preservative
214		E	ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate	preservative
215		E	sodium ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate	preservative
216	A		propylparaben	preservative
217			propyl sodium ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate	preservative
218	A	E	methylparaben	preservative
219		E	sodium methyl p-hydroxybenzoate	preservative
220	A	E	sulfur dioxide	preservative, antioxidant
221	A	E	sodium sulfite	preservative, antioxidant
222	A	E	sodium hydrogen sulfite	preservative, antioxidant
223	A	E	sodium metabisulfite	preservative, antioxidant, bleaching agent
224	A	E	potassium metabisulfite	preservative, antioxidant
225	A		potassium sulfite	preservative, antioxidant
226		E	calcium sulfite	preservative, antioxidant
227		E	calcium bisulfite	preservative, antioxidant
228	A	E	potassium bisulfite	preservative, antioxidant
230		E	biphenyl, diphenyl	preservative
231		E	orthophenyl phenol, 2-hydroxybiphenyl	preservative
232		E	sodium orthophenyl phenol	preservative
233			thiabendazole	preservative
234	A	E	nisin	preservative
235	A	E	pimaricin, natamycin	preservative
236			formic acid	preservative
237			sodium formate	preservative
238			calcium formate	preservative
239		E	hexamethylene tetramine, hexamine	preservative
240			formaldehyde	preservative
241			gum guaicum	preservative
242	A	E	dimethyl dicarbonate	preservative
249	A	E	potassium nitrite	preservative, colour fixative
250	A	E	sodium nitrite	preservative, colour fixative
251	A	E	sodium nitrate	preservative, colour fixative
252	A		potassium nitrate	preservative, colour fixative
260	A	E	glacial acetic acid	preservative, acidity regulator
261	A	E	potassium acetates	preservative, acidity regulator
262	A	E	sodium acetates	preservative, acidity regulator
263	A	E	calcium acetate	preservative, acidity regulator
264	A		ammmonium acetate	preservative, acidity regulator
265			dehydroacetic acid	preservative
266			sodium dehydroacetate	preservative
270	A	E	lactic acid	acidity regulator
280	A	E	propionic acid	preservative
281	A	E	sodium propionate	preservative
282	A	E	calcium propionate	preservative
283	A	E	potassium propionate	preservative
284		E	boric acid	preservative
285		E	sodium tetraborate, borax	preservative
290	A	E	carbon dioxide	propellant
296	A	E	malic acid	acidity regulator
297	A	E	fumaric acid	acidity regulator
300	A	E	ascorbic acid	antioxidant (water soluble)
301	A	E	sodium ascorbate	antioxidant (water soluble)
302	A	E	calcium ascorbate	antioxidant (water soluble)
303	A		potassium ascorbate	antioxidant (water soluble)
304	A	E	ascorbyl palmitate, ascorbyl stearate	antioxidant (fat soluble)
306	A	E	tocopherol concentrate	antioxidant
307	A	E	dl-alpha-tocopherol	antioxidant
308	A	E	gamma-tocopherol	antioxidant
309	A	E	delta-tocopherol	antioxidant
310	A	E	propyl gallate	antioxidant
311	A	E	octyl gallate	antioxidant
312	A	E	dodecyl gallate	antioxidant
315	A	E	erythorbic acid	antioxidant
316	A	E	sodium erythorbate	antioxidant
319	A		tert-butylhydroquinone	antioxidant
320	A	E	butylated hydroxyanisole, BHA	antioxidant (fat soluble)
321	A	E	butylated hydroxytoluene, BHT	antioxidant (fat soluble)
322	A	E	lecithins	antioxidant, emulsifier
325	A	E	sodium lactate	food acid
326	A	E	potassium lactate	food acid
327	A	E	calcium lactate	food acid
328	A		ammonium lactate	food acid
329	A		magnesium lactate	food acid
330	A	E	citric acid	food acid
331	A	E	sodium citrates	food acid
332	A	E	potassium citrates	food acid
333	A	E	calcium citrate	food acid
334	A	E	tartaric acid	food acid
335	A	E	sodium tartrates	food acid
336	A	E	potassium tartrates	food acid
337	A	E	potassium sodium tartrate	food acid
338	A	E	phosphoric acid	food acid
339	A	E	sodium phosphates	mineral salt
340	A	E	potassium phosphates	mineral salt
341	A	E	calcium phosphates	mineral salt
342	A		ammonium phosphates	mineral salt
343	A	E	magnesium phosphates	mineral salt
349	A		ammonium malate	food acid
350	A	E	sodium malates	food acid
351	A	E	potassium malate	food acid
352	A	E	calcium malates	food acid
353	A	E	metatartaric acid	food acid
354	A	E	calcium tartrate	food acid
355	A	E	adipic acid	food acid
356		E	sodium adipate	food acid
357	A	E	potassium adipate	food acid
363		E	succinic acid	food acid
365	A		sodium fumarate	food acid
366	A		potassium fumarate	food acid
367	A		calcium fumarate	food acid
368	A		ammonium fumarate	food acid
370			1,4-heptonolactone	food acid
375	A		niacin, (vitamin B3)	colour retention agent
380	A	E	triammonium citrate	food acid
381	A		ferric ammonium citrate	food acid
385	A	E	calcium disodium EDTA	preservative
400	A	E	alginic acid	thickener, vegetable gum
401	A	E	sodium alginate	thickener, vegetable gum
402	A	E	potassium alginate	thickener, vegetable gum
403	A	E	ammonium alginate	thickener, vegetable gum
404	A	E	calcium alginate	thickener, vegetable gum
405	A	E	propylene gloycol alginate	thickener, vegetable gum
406	A	E	agar	thickener, vegetable gum
407	A	E	carrageenan	thickener, vegetable gum
407a	A	E	processed eucheuma seaweed	thickener, vegetable gum
409	A		arabinogalactan	thickener, vegetable gum
410	A	E	locust bean gum	thickener, vegetable gum
412	A	E	guar gum	thickener, vegetable gum
413	A	E	tragacanth	thickener, vegetable gum
414	A	E	acacia, gum arabic	thickener, vegetable gum
415	A	E	xanthan gum	thickener, vegetable gum
416	A	E	karaya gum	thickener, vegetable gum
417		E	tara gum	thickener, vegetable gum
418	A	E	gellan gum	thickener, vegetable gum
420	A	E	sorbitol	humectant
421	A	E	mannitol	humectant
422	A	E	glycerin	humectant
425		E	konjac	thickener, vegetable gum
431		E	polyoxyethylene (40) stearate	emulsifier
432		E	polysorbate 20	emulsifier
433	A	E	polysorbate 80	emulsifier
434		E	polysorbate 40	emulsifier
435	A	E	polysorbate 60	emulsifier
436	A	E	polysorbate 65	emulsifier
440	A	E	pectin	vegetable gum
441	A	E	gelatine (not classified as an additive)	gelling agent
442	A	E	ammonium phosphatides	emulsifier
443	?	?	brominated vegetable oil	emulsifier, stabiliser
444	A	E	sucrose acetate isobutyrate	emulsifier, stabiliser
445		E	glycerol esters of wood rosin	emulsifier
450	A	E	diphosphates	mineral salt
451	A	E	triphosphates	mineral salt
452	A	E	polyphosphates	mineral salt
459		E	beta-cyclodextrine
460	A	E	powdered cellulose	anti-caking agent
461	A	E	methylcellulose	thickener, vegetable gum
463		E	hydroxypropyl cellulose	thickener, vegetable gum
464	A	E	hydroxypropyl methylcellulose	thickener, vegetable gum
465	A	E	methyl ethyl cellulose	thickener, vegetable gum
466	A	E	sodium carboxymethylcellulose	thickener, vegetable gum
470	A		magnesium stearate	emulsifier, stabiliser
470		E	salts of fatty acids	emulsifier, stabiliser
471	A	E	mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids	emulsifier
472a	A	E	acetic acid esters of 471	emulsifier
472b	A	E	lactic acid esters of 471	emulsifier
472c	A	E	citric acid esters of 471	emulsifier
472d	A	E	tartaric acid esters of 471	emulsifier
472e	A	E	diacetyltartaric acid esters of 471	emulsifier
472f		E	mixed acetic and tartaric acid esters of 471	emulsifier
473	A	E	sucrose esters of fatty acids	emulsifier
474		E	sucroglycerides	emulsifier
475	A	E	polyglycerol esters of fatty acids	emulsifier
476	A	E	polyglycerol polyricinoleate	emulsifier
477	A	E	propylene glycol esters of fatty acids	emulsifier
479b		E	thermally oxidised soya bean oil	emulsifier
480	A		dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate	emulsifier
481	A	E	sodium stearoyl lactylate	emulsifier
482	A	E	calcium stearoyl lactylate	emulsifier
483		E	stearyl tartarate	emulsifier
491	A	E	sorbitan monostearate	emulsifier
492	A	E	sorbitan tristearate	emulsifier
493			sorbitan monolaurate	emulsifier
494		E	sorbitan monooleate	emulsifier
495		E	sorbitan monopalmitate	emulsifier
500	A	E	sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate	mineral salt
501	A	E	potassium carbonate, potassium bicarbonate	mineral salt
503	A	E	ammonium carbonate, ammonium bicarbonate	mineral salt
504	A	E	magnesium carbonate	anti-caking agent, mineral salt
507	A	E	hydrochloric acid	acidity regulator
508	A	E	potassium chloride	mineral salt
509	A	E	calcium chloride	mineral salt
510	A		ammonium chloride	mineral salt
511	A	E	magnesium chloride	mineral salt
512	A	E	stannous chloride	colour retention agent
513		E	sulfuric acid	acidity regulator
514	A	E	sodium sulfate	mineral salt
515	A	E	potassium sulfate	mineral salt
516	A	E	calcium sulfate	flour treatment agent, mineral salt
517		E	ammonium sulfate	mineral salt
518	A		magneisum sulfate	mineral salt
519	A		cupric sulfate	mineral salt
520		E	aluminium sulfate	mineral salt
521		E	aluminium sodium sulfate	mineral salt
522		E	aluminium potassium sulfate	mineral salt
523		E	aluminium ammonium sulfate	mineral salt
524		E	sodium hydroxide	mineral salt
525		E	potassium hydroxide	mineral salt
526	A	E	calcium hydroxide	mineral salt
527		E	ammonium hydroxide	mineral salt
528		E	magnesium hydroxide	mineral salt
529	A	E	calcium oxide	mineral salt
530		E	magnesium oxide	anti-caking agent
535	A	E	sodium ferrocyanide	anti-caking agent
536	A	E	potassium ferrocyanide	anti-caking agent
538		E	calcium ferrocyanide	anti-caking agent
540			dicalcium diphosphate	anti-caking agent
541	A	E	sodium aluminium phosphate	acidity regulator, emulsifier
542	A		bone phosphate	anti-caking agent
544			calcium polyphosphates	anti-caking agent
545			ammonium polyphosphates	anti-caking agent
551	A	E	silicon dioxide	anti-caking agent
552	A	E	calcium silicate	anti-caking agent
553a		E	magnesium silicate	anti-caking agent
553b	A	E	talc	anti-caking agent
554	A	E	sodium aluminium silicate	anti-caking agent
555		E	potassium aluminium silicate	anti-caking agent
556	A	E	calcium aluminium silicate	anti-caking agent
558	A	E	bentonite	anti-caking agent
559	A	E	kaolin, aluminium silicate	anti-caking agent
570	A	E	stearic acid	anti-caking agent
575	A	E	glucono-delta-lactone	acidity regulator
576		E	sodium gluconate	stabiliser
577	A	E	potassium gluconate	stabiliser
578	A	E	calcium gluconate	acidity regulator
579	A	E	ferrous gluconate	colour retention agent
585		E	ferrous lactate
620	A	E	glutamic acid	flavour enhancer
621	A	E	monosodium glutamate (MSG)	flavour enhancer
622	A	E	monopotassium glutamate	flavour enhancer
623	A	E	calcium diglutamate	flavour enhancer
624	A	E	monoammonium glutamate	flavour enhancer
625	A	E	magnesium diglutamate	flavour enhancer
626			guanylic acid	flavour enhancer
627	A	E	disodium guanylate	flavour enhancer
628		E	dipotassium guanylate	flavour enhancer
629		E	calcium guanylate	flavour enhancer
630		E	inosinic acid	flavour enhancer
631	A	E	disodium inosinate	flavour enhancer
632		E	dipotassium inosinate	flavour enhancer
633		E	calcium inosinate	flavour enhancer
634		E	calcium 5'-ribonucleotides	flavour enhancer
635	A	E	disodium 5'-ribonucleotides	flavour enhancer
636	A		maltol	flavour enhancer
637	A		ethyl maltol	flavour enhancer
640	A	E	glycine	flavour enhancer
641	A		leucine	flavour enhancer
650		E	zinc acetate	flavour enhancer
900	A	E	dimethylpolysiloxane	emulsifier, anti-caking agent
901	A	E	beeswax	glazing agent
902		E	candelilla wax	glazing agent
903	A	E	carnauba wax	glazing agent
904	A	E	shellac	glazing agent
905	A	E	paraffins	glazing agent
907			refined microcrystalline wax	glazing agent
912		E	montanic acid esters	humectant
914	A	E	oxidised polyethylene wax	humectant
920	A	E	L-cysteine	flour treatment agent
924			potassium bromate	flour treatment agent
925	A		chlorine	flour treatment agent
926	A		chlorine dioxide	flour treatment agent
927b		E	carbamide	flour treatment agent
928	A		benzoyl peroxide	flour treatment agent
938		E	argon	propellant
939		E	helium	propellant
941	A	E	nitrogen	propellant
942	A	E	nitrous oxide	propellant
943a		E	butane	propellant
943b		E	isobutane	propellant
950	A	E	Acesulfame potassium	artificial sweetener
951	A	E	aspartame	artificial sweetener
952	A	E	cyclamic acid, cyclamates	artificial sweetener
953	A	E	isomalt	humectant
954	A	E	saccharin	artificial sweetener
955	A		sucralose	artificial sweetener
956	A		alitame	artificial sweetener
957	A	E	thaumatin	flavour enhancer, artificial sweetener
959		E	neohesperidin dihydrochalcone	artificial sweetener
965	A	E	maltitol	humectant, stabiliser
966	A	E	lactitol	humectant
967	A	E	xylitol	humectant, stabiliser
999		E	quillaia extract	humectant
1001	A		choline salts and esters	emulsifier
1100	A		amylases	flour treatment agent
1102	A		glucose oxidase	antioxidant
1103		E	invertase	?
1104	A		lipases	flavour enhancer
1105	A	E	lysozyme	preservative
1200	A	E	polydextrose	humectant
1201	A	E	poly vinyl pyrrolidone	mineral salt
1202	A	E	polyvinylpolypyrrolidone	colour stabiliser
1400	A		dextrin roasted starch	thickener, vegetable gum
1401	A		acid treated starch	thickener, vegetable gum
1402	A		alkaline treated starch	thickener, vegetable gum
1403	A		bleached starch	thickener, vegetable gum
1404	A	E	oxidised starch	thickener, vegetable gum
1405	A		enzyme treated starch	thickener, vegetable gum
1410	A	E	monostarch phosphate	thickener, vegetable gum
1412	A	E	distarch phosphate	thickener, vegetable gum
1413	A	E	phosphated distarch phosphate	thickener, vegetable gum
1414	A	E	acetylated distarch phosphate	thickener, vegetable gum
1420	A	E	acetylated starch	thickener, vegetable gum
1422	A	E	acetylated distarch adipate	thickener, vegetable gum
1440	A	E	hydroxypropyl starch	thickener, vegetable gum
1442	A	E	hydroxypropyl distarch phosphate	thickener, vegetable gum
1450	A	E	starch sodium octenylsuccinate	thickener, vegetable gum
1451		E	acetylated oxidised starch	thickener, vegetable gum
1505	A	E	triethyl citrate	thickener, vegetable gum
1510			ethanol (not classified as an additive)	alcohol
1518	A	E	triacetin	humectant
1520	A	E	propylene glycol	humectant
1521	A		polyethylene glycol 8000	antifoaming agent