Food Additive DB
Food Additive Guides
Evidence-based guides to understanding food additives — from E number basics to international regulatory comparisons. All content cites official sources (EFSA, FDA, JECFA).
Foundation
Start HereWhat Are E Numbers?
Complete guide to E numbers: what they mean, how the system works, classification categories, and why the EU uses this numbering system for food additives.
How to Read Food Labels
Learn how to read and understand food additive labels across different countries. Complete guide covering EU, USA, Japan, and international labeling requirements.
Science
ScienceNatural vs. Synthetic Food Additives
Comprehensive guide to natural and synthetic food additives. Learn the differences, safety considerations, and common misconceptions about additive sources.
Understanding ADI Values
A beginner's guide to Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) values — how they're calculated, what safety margins are built in, and how to interpret them.
Deep Dive
Deep DiveArtificial Food Colors (E100–E199)
Comprehensive guide to artificial and natural food colors. Learn about azo dyes, natural colorants, safety debates, and the Southampton study.
Understanding Food Preservatives
Comprehensive guide to food preservatives (E200–E299). Learn how preservatives work, types of preservation, and alternatives to chemical preservatives.
Artificial Sweeteners Compared
Compare major artificial sweeteners including aspartame (E951), sucralose (E955), acesulfame-K (E950), stevia (E960), and cyclamate (E952).
Analysis
AnalysisMost Controversial Food Additives
An evidence-based look at the most controversial food additives — titanium dioxide (E171), aspartame (E951), nitrites, BHA/BHT, and more. Official regulatory positions.
Food Additives and Children: A Parent's Guide
A parent's guide to understanding food additives that affect children. Covers the Southampton study, E numbers to be aware of, and how to interpret regulatory warnings.
Additives Banned in the EU but Approved Elsewhere
Why does the EU ban food additives that other countries permit? Explore the science and regulatory philosophy behind EU-specific bans.
Regulations
RegulationsHow Food Additive Regulations Differ Worldwide
A comprehensive overview of how the EU, USA, Japan, Canada, and Australia/NZ regulate food additives differently. Compare positive lists, GRAS, and designated systems.
Major Regulatory Changes (2024–2025)
A timeline of significant regulatory changes to food additives worldwide, including FDA bans, EU re-evaluations, and EFSA opinion updates from 2024–2025.
Ingredient Checker Tool
Paste any ingredient list and instantly see which items are food additives, their E numbers, functional class, and regulatory status across 5 countries.
Country Comparison Pages
See side-by-side regulatory comparisons: EU vs. USA, EU vs. Japan, and more — with explanations of why the same additive is treated differently across borders.