In a nutshell, E-numbers are identifiers for food additives approved by the European Union.
Some of these additives are products you might have in your kitchen in their pure form - such as ascorbic acid (E 300) or baking soda (E 500), but most of them are used as additives in different food products. They are added for different reasons, for example as coloring or preservatives.
There are other systems for identifying food additives, such as the International Numbering System for Food Additives (INS). The INS numbers are related to E-numbers, and often refer to the same additive. However, it is important to note that not all INS-numbers have a corresponding E-number, and in some cases an INS number might refer to a group of additives.
On our website you can find additives either by their E-number, category or name.