E number
A number used in the European Union to identify permitted food additives. An E number means that an additive has passed safety tests and has been approved for use
In food safety, an E number is a code used in the European Union to identify food additives that are approved for use in foods. Each E number corresponds to a specific additive, such as a colour, preservative, sweetener, or stabilizer, and indicates that it has been evaluated for safety at EU level.
EFSA assesses food additives before they are assigned an E number and continues to review them over time. It evaluates their safety by examining toxicity data, how much people are exposed to through food, and whether they can be safely used at proposed levels. EFSA’s scientific advice supports EU decisions on authorizing additives, setting conditions of use, and ensuring that foods containing E-number additives are safe for consumers.