TempoLife › Features › E-number additive encyclopedia
E numbers explained
0 food additives with what they do, the foods they appear in, and the EFSA acceptable daily intake where one is set.
The ADI is the lifetime daily average EFSA considers safe, per kg of body weight — not a limit for one meal or one day.
How to read the ADI
The acceptable daily intake is stated per kilogram of body weight. Each additive page multiplies it out for a 60 kg adult, because that is the number that is actually useful in a kitchen. EFSA builds in a wide safety margin — usually a factor of 100 — between the ADI and the level that shows any effect in studies.
Two rows need special reading. E171 titanium dioxide is not permitted in EU food since 2022 and is listed for look-up only. E967 xylitol is safe for people but extremely toxic to dogs, even in small amounts.
Sources: EFSA — food additives re-evaluations · Open Food Facts — additives taxonomy · checked 2026-09-03
Frequently asked questions
What does an E number mean?
It means the additive passed a European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) safety assessment and may be used in the EU under defined conditions. The E is the EU harmonised code; the same substances carry different code systems elsewhere.
Are E numbers bad?
No — the list spans everything from vitamin C (E300) to baking soda (E500). What matters is which substance, in which foods, and how much. That is exactly what this page lists.
What is an ADI?
The acceptable daily intake: the amount in milligrams per kilogram of body weight that can be eaten every day for a lifetime without harm, usually with a 100-fold safety margin built in. A day above the ADI is not a health event; the ADI is a lifetime average.
Why is titanium dioxide (E171) on this page if it is banned?
Because it still appears on older labels and in medicines and toothpaste, so people look it up. It has not been permitted as a food additive in the EU since 2022.
Curious what is actually in your food plan
TempoLife tracks macros and meals — the label-reading habit this page teaches pays off every shop.