Food E Numbers to Avoid

When you go shopping, especially food shopping, do you read food labels? Are you interested what’s in it? And more important – do you understand all those words and abbreviations?

I am one of those people who never, or, rarely reads food labels. Or, better say - I used to be. After stumbling upon several articles about food additives, emulsions and food colours, I realized that the more I learn about this, the more concerned I get.

And, of course, I even found some EU Regulations on labeling food, in particular food dyes, that gives me reasons to start thinking that our health, and the health of our children is at stake.

Food additives are substances added intentionally to foodstuffs to perform certain technological functions, for example to colour, to sweeten or to help preserve foods. All food additives are identified by an E number.

E100 - E199 Colours

Colours are one of the more controversial E number categories, as there has been some research suggesting some of the artificial colours are responsible for causing hyperactivity in children. They also may cause asthma and cancer.

E200 - E299 Preservatives

E300 - E399 Antioxidants and Acidity Regulators

E400 - E499 Thickeners, Stabilisers and Emulsifiers

E500 - E599 Acidity Regulators and Anti-Caking Agents

E600 - E699 Flavour Enhancers

E900 - E999 Miscellaneous E Numbers

E1000 - E1999 Additional Chemicals

I tried to make a summary of my research and list the DANGEROUS and TOXIC E Numbers – Colours to AVOID!

So, here it is:

E Number	Name	Category	Side Effect	Where
E102 E103	Tartrazine alkanet, alkannin	Colour - Yellow and Orange	Forbidden in some parts of the western world! May increase hyperactivity in affected children. Asthmatics sometimes react badly. Take care if you are sensitive to Aspirin	Sweats, busicits
E123	Amaranth	Colour - Red	Very Dangerous May increase hyperactivity in affected children. Take care if you are sensitive to Aspirin. BANNED in some countries	cake mixes, fruit-flavoured fillings, jelly crystals
E129	Allura Red AC	Colour - Red	Avoid if you suffer from asthma, rhinitis (including hay fever) and urticaria (an allergic rash also known as hives	Widely used as food colouring, in snacks, sauces, preserves, soups, wine, cider etc.
E151	Brilliant Black BN	Colour – Black	People who suffer from allergic conditions, asthma, rhinitis, urticaria, etc. should avoid this substance	Widely used in drinks, sauces, snacks, wines, cheese etc

You can read more about this here, and here

 
Photo Courtesy SlashFood.com

Good Appetite!