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NeBu

2026-05-23 · 6 min read

What is an E-number, and should we be afraid?

What do the codes from E100 to E999 on food labels actually mean? Which additives genuinely carry a risk, and which have been used safely for decades? A transparent summary with EFSA and IARC references.

  • food additives
  • food safety
  • e-numbers
  • efsa

Have you ever turned over a product, scanned the ingredient list, spotted "E951" or "E249" — and felt a small knot of unease? You are not alone. Food additives are among the things the public fears most yet understands least.

In this article we lay out clearly what E-numbers are, how they are numbered, which additives genuinely deserve attention, and which ones are no cause for panic.

What is an E-number?

An E-number is a unique code assigned by the European Union to a food additive, indicating that it has been approved for use. The "E" stands for "Europe"; the number tells you the additive's category:

  • E100–E199: Colourings (e.g. E102 Tartrazine)
  • E200–E299: Preservatives (e.g. E211 Sodium benzoate, E249 Potassium nitrite)
  • E300–E399: Antioxidants and acidity regulators (e.g. E300 Ascorbic acid / vitamin C)
  • E400–E499: Thickeners and emulsifiers (e.g. E322 Lecithin, E440 Pectin)
  • E500–E599: Acidity regulators and raising agents
  • E600–E699: Flavour enhancers (e.g. E621 MSG)
  • E900–E999: Sweeteners and glazing agents (e.g. E951 Aspartame)

So carrying an E-number does not automatically mean "harmful" — it only signals that a regulator has recognised the substance.

How does the approval process work?

For an additive to be used in food in Europe, it must be evaluated by the EFSA (European Food Safety Authority). The process:

  1. Toxicology studies — animal and human testing.
  2. Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) is set — a safe daily limit in mg per kilogram of body weight.
  3. Authorisation — the additive is added to the EU approved list with conditions of use.
  4. Re-evaluation — as new scientific evidence emerges (Aspartame in 2023, Titanium dioxide in 2021), approvals are revised.

In Türkiye the same additives are governed by the Turkish Food Codex Regulation, which is largely aligned with the EFSA list.

Which ones are actually worth attention?

In light of the scientific literature and official evaluations, here are a few examples we flag as "higher risk":

E951 — Aspartame (artificial sweetener)

Found in diet drinks, chewing gum and "sugar-free" products. In 2023 it was reclassified by IARC as Class 2B (possibly carcinogenic to humans). The EFSA daily limit is 40 mg/kg of body weight; ordinary consumption rarely approaches it, but it is something to consider if your answer to "how much diet cola do you drink?" is "constantly".

E249 — Potassium nitrite (meat preservative)

Used in salami, sausage, sucuk and pastırma for colour and to prevent pathogens. When cooked, it can form nitrosamines, reported by IARC under Group 2A (probably carcinogenic to humans). A link with colorectal cancer is documented in WHO/IARC studies.

E102 — Tartrazine (yellow colouring)

A synthetic food dye. Work by the EFSA "Southampton Six" panel found weak evidence of an association with hyperactivity and reduced attention in children. A warning label is mandatory on EU packaging.

Which ones aren't worth fearing?

Most E-numbers are naturally sourced or have come through years of testing with a clean record:

  • E300 — Ascorbic acid; also known as vitamin C, both an antioxidant and a nutrient.
  • E322 — Lecithin; from soy or sunflower, safe in wide consumption.
  • E330 — Citric acid; occurs naturally in lemons.
  • E440 — Pectin; from fruit, both a thickener and a source of fibre.
  • E412 — Guar gum; from legumes, high in fibre.

Seeing these codes on a label does not mean "this is a bad product".

Practical advice

Rather than an approach built on avoiding E-numbers, we recommend one built on informed reading:

  1. Is the ingredient list short? (Shorter usually means less processing.)
  2. Are there higher-risk codes on the list? (E249, E951 are signals to pay attention.)
  3. Would the same additive, taken not from one product but across 5–6 products a day, exceed the ADI?

No panic needed — but knowledge is. The NeBu app runs this analysis automatically for every product; you see the risk level in seconds, without poring over the label.

Sources

For the full detail of the NeBu methodology, take a look at our /methodology page.