E-NUMBER NAME PURPOSE SUSPICIAN BANNED/ RESTRICTED IN
E129 Alura Red AC Colouring. Hyperactivity, asthma, rhinitis and urticaria. Norway, Finland, Austria
E173 Aluminium Colour & Cleanse. Links with osteoporosis and Alzheimer's. Australia
E123 Amaranth Blue / red dye. Asthma, hyperactivity, rhinitis and urticaria and carcinogenic? USA, Soviet Union, Norway, Finland
Heavily restricted in European Union
E160b Annatto Colouring. Urticaria andmay create swelling and breathing problems. Restricted in European Union
E951 Aspartame Sweetener. Carcinogenic, hyperactivity, strokes? Mimics ME, Alzheimer's. Parkinson's MS.
E150c Ammonia caramel Colouring. Questions about toxicity toward circulatory systems. Some caramels reduce white blood cells in rats. May reduce vitamin B6
E122 Azorabine Carmosine Colouring. Asthma, rhinitis and urticaria. Could adversely affect digestive enzymes. USA, Norway, Japan, Finland
E210 Benzoic Acid Preservative. Asthma, rhinitis and urticaria.
E284 Boric acid Preservative. In caviar also in mouthwashes. Poison! Menstrual disorders, anorexia, asthenia, confusion and hair loss.
E133 Brilliant Blue Colouring. Carcinogenic? Provokes rashes in sensitive people. Caused kidney tumours in animal tests.
Norway, Austria, Switzerland
E151 Brilliant Black BN Colouring. Asthma, rhinitis, hyperactivity, urticaria and cysts. Could adversely affect digestive enzymes USA, Japan, Norway, Sweden, Canada
E154 Brown FK Colouring. Asthma, rhinitis and urticaria and cysts.
E320 Bulated Hydroxyanisole Antioxidant. Carcinogenic and DNA disrupter?
E321 Bulated Hydroxytoluene Antioxidant. Often in low fat processed foods and jet fuel! Has an anti vitamin K effect may cause haemorrhaging.
E213 Calcium Benzoate Preservative. To be avoided by people with fever, rashes and asthma.
E282 Calcium Propionate Preservative. Hyperactivity trigger.
E226 Calcium Sulphite Preservative. Avoid if suffering: bronchial, asthmatic, emphysema, cardiovascular or respiratory problems.
E161g Canathaxanthin Colouring. Crystallisation may effect eyes and liver.
E407 Carrageenan Thickener. Carcinogenic?
E290 Carbon dioxide. Fizz and Preservative. Long term use reduces fertility.
E472c Citric acid esters. Emulsifier. Carcinogenic?
E952 Cyclamic acid Na & Ca Sweetener. Can trigger skin disorders.
E450 Diphosphates Leavening agent. Excessive use may lead to osteoporosis.
E127 Erythosine Colouring. Thyroid tumours - (mainly in cocktail cherries).May provoke asthma, rashes, hyperactivity Norway, European Union , Australia
E570 Ferrous gluconate Colouring. Must not be given to children below 24 months old - often in olives.
E142 Green Colouring. Ongoing research into acceptable intake levels. May Provoke asthma rashes and hyperactivity Norway, USA, Japan, Canada
E620 Glutamic acid Flavour enhancer. Concern that it can kill nerve ends - Alzheimer's etc.
E626 Guanylic acid Flavour enhancer. 50 to 100 times more powerful than MSG which it is often teamed up with. Ongoing research.
E239 Hexametylene (Hexamine) Preservative. Made from formaldehyde and ammonia. Carcinogenic? asthma, headaches and rashes.
E1440 Hydroxy propyl starch. Thickener. Ongoing research.
E132 Indigo Carmine Colouring May provoke asthma, rashes, hyperactivity. Caused cancer and gene damage in laboratory tests. Norway
E416 Karaya gum Emulsifier. Dermatitis, asthma, rhinitis and urticaria.
E966 Lacititol Sweetener. Laxative and may be mutagenic.
E472b Lactic acid esters Emulsifier. Carcinogenic?
E180 Litholrubine Colouring. Asthma, rhinitis and urticaria.
E621 Monosodium Glutamate Flavour enhancer. In crisps, sauces, soups, stock cubes etc. "Excitotoxin" . Seizures, facial burning sensations, chest pains, bloating headaches, nausea and asthma.
E942 Nitrous oxide Propellant. Damage - DNA neurological, kidney / liver disorders, carcinogenic?
E131 Patent Blue Colouring. Carcinogenic?
E308 Phosphoric acid Food additive Excessive consumption - loss of bone calcium / calcification of soft tissue - especially the kidneys.
E124 Ponceau 4R Colouring. Hyperactivity, asthma, rhinitis and urticaria. Damaged genes in laboratory tests. Found to inhibit EFA's USA, Norway, Sweden, Canada
E508 Potassium chloride Seasoning. Circulatory and gastric problems.
E249 Potassium nitrite Preservative. Colour fixative. Lowers oxygen capacity of blood, along with other substances. Carcinogenic?
E216 Prpylp-hydroxybenzoate Preservative. Trigger for dermatitis.
E999 Quillaia extract saponin Foaming agent. Large doses can be toxic - coma.
E128 Red G2 Colouring. Hyperactivity.
E954 Saccharin Sweetener. Long suspected as carcinogenic?
E512 Stannous chloride (Tin!) Antioxidant. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, headaches and fatigue.
E635 Sodium 5'ribonucleotide Flavour enhancer. Itchy skin rashes sometimes accompanied by life-threatening breathing difficulties.
E223 Sodium metabisulphite Preservative. Danger of severe asthmatic reaction.
E331 Sodium monosodium, di-sodium and tri-sodium citrates Acidity controller. Excessive consumption could trigger muscle spasms of depress the heart.
E491 Sodium mono-sterate
Emulsifier. High doses may trigger liver and bile enlargement. and retardation of growth.
E232 Sodium othopenhenal phenol Preservative.
E339 Sodium phosphates, mono-sodium, di-sodium, tri-sodium phosphates. Emulsifier. Alzheimer's and osteoporosis trigger.
E337 Sodium potassium tartrate Emulsifier. Water retention, liver & kidney damage and to be avoided by people with heart / blood pressure problems.
E285 Sodium tetra borate (Borax) Preservative Toxic.
E221 Sodium sulphite Preservative. Asthma trigger.
E363 Succinic acid Flavour enhancer. Large doses associated with stomach disorders.
E473 Sucrose esters. Emulsifier. Laxative, bloater and carcinogenic?
E110 Sunset Yellow FCF, Orange Yellow S Colouring. Hyperactivity, asthma, rhinitis and urticaria. Affected Kidneys of rats. Could adversely affect digestive enzymes. Norway, Finland, Sweden
E220 Sulphur dioxide Preservative. Interferes with the absorption of many nutrients. Triggers: anaphylaxis, bronchorestriction / spasm, flushing, hypertension, damage to DNA, irritates: conjunctivitis, emphysema, bronchial asthma and cardiovascular conditions.
E102 Tartrazine Colouring. Hyperactivity, asthma, rhinitis and urticaria. Germany, Norway, Finland, Sweden
Heavily restricted in Austria
E553b Talc. Anticaking. Respiratory distress.
E171 Titanium dioxide Colouring. Carcinogenic?
E153 Vegetable carbon Colouring. Carcinogenic?
The Good 'E's
Not all E numbers are bad - the following represent certain vitamins and minerals which are actually good for your kids:-
E101 (Vitamin B2), E160 (Carotene, Vitamin A), E252 (Potassium nitrate - Saltpetre) for preventing botulism, E300-304 (Vitamin C), E306-309 (Tocopherols, like Vitamin E), E322 (Lecithin), E375 (Niacin), E440 (Pectin)