E Number Guide

What do E numbers actually mean?

Q: What's the difference between an E number and an INS number?

They're usually the same underlying classification system. The INS (International Numbering System) number is typically identical to the E number, just without the "E" prefix, and is used in countries and export documentation that don't formally adopt EU food law.

An E number just means an additive is approved for use in the EU — it says nothing on its own about whether that additive is safe, natural, or something to avoid. Here's how the numbering system actually works, and how to find out which E numbers to avoid.

Quick answer

E numbers are a European classification system for food additives, grouped by function — colours are E100–199, preservatives E200–299, antioxidants E300–399, and so on. The "E" simply means the additive has passed a safety review in Europe. Australia and New Zealand use the same numbers without the "E" prefix (just "102" instead of "E102"), while the US often uses completely different common names for the same substances.

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What does the "E" actually mean?

"E" simply stands for Europe. An E number means a food additive has gone through a formal safety assessment and been approved for use somewhere in the European Union — it's a classification system, not a safety rating. Vitamin C (E300) and citric acid (E330), both naturally occurring, carry E numbers right alongside synthetic dyes and preservatives. The number tells you what an additive is and roughly what it does, not whether you should avoid it.

Why does the numbering system exist?

Gives every approved additive one consistent code, regardless of its chemical name or which country it's sold in
Groups additives by function — the first digit roughly tells you what job the additive does
Makes ingredient lists shorter and easier to standardise across multiple languages
Lets regulators and shoppers cross-reference the same substance across different products

The E number ranges, decoded

The first digit of an E number tells you roughly what job the additive does. A few real examples from each range, with Goodnessly's rating for each:

100–199

Colours Give food its colour — from natural beta-carotene to synthetic dyes like tartrazine

200–299

Preservatives Stop food spoiling or growing mould — a wide range, from simple salts to more debated compounds

300–399

Antioxidants & acidity regulators Stop food going rancid or discolouring, and adjust sourness or pH — includes plain vitamin C

400–499

Thickeners, stabilisers & emulsifiers Control texture — keep sauces smooth, stop oil and water separating, thicken or gel

500–599

Acidity regulators & anti-caking agents Adjust pH, stop powders clumping, and cover a few narrow-purpose processing aids

600–699

Flavour enhancers Boost existing flavour rather than adding their own — MSG and its close relatives

900–999

Glazing agents & sweeteners Give shine to sweets, or replace sugar — covers most of the artificial sweeteners

Numbers 1000–1999 exist too, covering newer additions like modified starches — they don't follow the same "first digit = function" pattern as 100–999.

Same additive, different name

The confusing part isn't the number itself — it's that different countries label the same substance differently, and not every country uses E numbers at all. Tartrazine is a good example of how far this can vary:

Region	Naming convention	Example
EU European Union	E number, always with the "E" prefix	E102
AU/NZ Australia & New Zealand	Same numbers as the EU, but the "E" is dropped on ingredient labels	102
US United States	Common or FD&C name — the FDA doesn't use E numbers at all	FD&C Yellow No. 5 / Yellow 5
Global Technical & export labelling	INS number (International Numbering System) — usually identical to the E number but without the letter	INS 102

This is exactly why search results for the same additive can look so inconsistent — "E102", "102", "Yellow 5" and "INS 102" are usually the same substance, just labelled under whichever convention that country or industry uses.

An E number doesn't mean dangerous

Having an E number just means an additive cleared a formal approval process — it says nothing about whether it's synthetic, natural, or worth avoiding. A few things worth knowing:

Plain vitamin C is E300. Plain citric acid, found naturally in citrus fruit, is E330. Both carry E numbers.
The same additive can carry very different real-world evidence — some E numbers (like colours in the 100s) attract far more scrutiny than others (like thickeners in the 400s)
An additive lacking an E number in a product from outside the EU isn't automatically safer — it may simply not have gone through that particular approval process, or be labelled under a different country's system entirely
Regulatory approval and Goodnessly's own rating are different things — approval means "permitted to use," not "recommended." That's the gap this directory tries to fill

This is also why Goodnessly doesn't rate additives purely by their E-number range: 100-series colours and 900-series sweeteners tend to carry more real concern in the evidence, but plenty of individual exceptions exist in every range — which is the whole reason to check each additive individually rather than judging by its number alone.

Looking for E numbers to avoid?

Every additive in this directory is checked against evidence from multiple food safety authorities, not just whether it holds an E number. Regulatory approval tells you something is permitted; it doesn't tell you the full picture the way an independent evidence review does — which is what actually matters if you're trying to work out which E numbers to avoid.

Safe: naturally occurring substances or additives with a long history of safe use, like citric acid
Caution: additives with some limitation in the evidence — missing long-term data, narrow approved uses, or mixed findings
Avoid: additives with the most consistent evidence of concern, regardless of which E-number range they sit in

Scan any product with the Goodnessly app to see this rating applied to every additive it contains — not just whether each one carries an E number.

See real ratings, not just numbers

A few starting points from across the directory:

Frequently asked questions

What does the "E" in E numbers stand for?

"E" stands for Europe. An E number means a food additive has been formally assessed and approved for use within the European Union.

Are all E numbers bad for you?

No. E numbers cover naturally occurring substances like vitamin C (E300) and citric acid (E330), as well as synthetic additives with far more mixed evidence. Having an E number only means an additive is approved for use — it doesn't indicate whether it's natural, synthetic, or something worth limiting.

Why don't I see E numbers on US products?

The US FDA doesn't use the E-number system at all. Instead, US labels use common names or FD&C designations, such as "Yellow 5" instead of "E102." The same additive can be regulated and approved in both places under completely different names.

What's the difference between an E number and an INS number?

They're usually the same underlying classification system — the INS (International Numbering System) number is typically identical to the E number, just without the "E" prefix, and is used in countries and export documentation that don't formally adopt EU food law.

Which E numbers should I avoid?

Rather than one fixed list, Goodnessly rates all 319 additives in this directory individually, so you can see exactly which ones fall into the Avoid category and why — things like tartrazine (E102), sodium nitrite (E250) and MSG (E621) are common examples people specifically look to avoid. A "one size fits all" list of E numbers to avoid can be misleading, since evidence and personal sensitivities vary by additive, not just by number range.

How do I know if a specific E number is safe?

Check the individual additive rather than relying on its number range alone. Goodnessly rates each of the 319 additives in this directory individually against the available evidence, since even additives in the same E-number range can carry very different real-world risk profiles.

Don't decode labels by hand

Scan any product with the Goodnessly app to instantly see every additive it contains, rated individually — not just whether each one carries an E number.