List of food additives to avoid
You may have heard of ‘chemical sensitivity’ or ‘chemical intolerance’... If you are sensitive to chemicals you might adversely react to perfumes, household cleaning products and the chlorine in your pool. You could also be sensitive to food colourings, artificial favourings and preservatives. People with eczema, rosacea, psoriasis or asthma are often sensitive to food additives but it can be hard to know which ones are tame and which ones are to blame (for the itch!).
So what types of food additives should you avoid?
Use this page to check the food chemicals in your foods. You can do this by doing a search within this list to see if you can consume it safely (on Mac: Command+F; and on PC: Ctrl+F).
For a downloadable spreadsheet version click here, for a PDF click here.
Additives sourced from Treffers S., 1999. Food Additives, Pocket Reference Series, A Pocket sized reference to their use origin and effects.
| Additive Code | Additives | Advice |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | Curcumin or turmeric (contains salicylates so avoid it if you are sensitive to salicylates) | CAUTION |
| 101 | Riboflavin, also called lactoflavin, vitamin B2, Riboflavin-5′-phosphate | OK |
| 102 (artificial) | Tartrazine, also called yellow #5, CI 19140 (yellow food colour) | AVOID |
| 103 | Alkanet or Alkannin, pink (could contain salicylates) | CAUTION |
| 104 (artificial) | Quinoline yellow, CI 47005 | AVOID |
| 110 (artificial) | Sunset yellow FCF, yellow #6, CI 15985 | AVOID |
| 120 | Cochineal or carmines or Carminic acid, red (certain people are allergic) | CAUTION |
| 122 (artificial) | Azorubine or Carmoisine, CI 14720 | AVOID |
| 123 (artificial) | Amaranth, also called CI 16185 | AVOID |
| 124 (artificial) | Ponceau 4R, also called brilliant scarlet, CI 16255 | AVOID |
| 127 (artificial) | Erythrosine, also called red #3, CI 45430 | AVOID |
| 129 (artificial) | Allura red AC, also called red #40, CI 16035 | AVOID |
| 132 (artificial) | Indigotine, also called indigo carmine, blue #2, CI 73015 | AVOID |
| 133 (artificial) | Brilliant Blue FCF, also called blue #1, CI 42090 | AVOID |
| 140 | Chlorophyll (may contain salicylates, amines or glutamates) | CAUTION |
| 141 | Chlorophyll-copper complex, sodium and potassium salts (may contain salicylates or glutamates) | CAUTION |
| 142 (artificial) | Green S, acid brilliant green, CI 44090 | AVOID |
| 143 (artificial) | Fast green FCF, green #3, CI 42053 | AVOID |
| 150a | Caramel, safest out of all caramels | CAUTION |
| 150b | Caramel, may cause gastrointestinal problems | CAUTION |
| 150c | Caramel, known to cause convulsions in animals | CAUTION |
| 150d | Caramel | CAUTION |
| 151 (artificial) | Brilliant black BN or Brilliant black PN, CI28440 | AVOID |
| 153(artificial) | Carbon blacks, also calledVegetable carbon | OK |
| 155 (artificial) | Brown HT,also called chocolate brown, CI 52028 | AVOID |
| 160a | Carotene, or beta carotene | OK |
| 160b | Annatto extracts,also called bixin, norbixin, CI 75120, | AVOID |
| 160c | Paprika oleoresins (may contain salicylates, amines or glutamates) | CAUTION |
| 160d | Lycopene (may contain salicylates, amines or glutamates | CAUTION |
| 160e | b-apo-8′-Carotenal | OK |
| 160f | b-apo-8′-Carotenoic acid methyl or ethyl ester | OK |
| 161a | Flavoxanthin (may contain salicylates, amines or glutamates | CAUTION |
| 161b | Lutein (may contain salicylates, amines or glutamates | CAUTION |
| 161c | Kryptoxanthin (may contain salicylates, amines or glutamates | CAUTION |
| 161d | Rubixanthin (may contain salicylates, amines or glutamates | CAUTION |
| 161e | Violoxanthin (may contain salicylates, amines or glutamates | CAUTION |
| 161f | Rhodoxanthin (may contain salicylates, amines or glutamates | CAUTION |
| 162 | Beet red (may contain sodium nitrate- not suitable for infants and small children) | CAUTION |
| 163 | Anthocyanins also called Grape skin extract or Blackcurrant extract, red, blue, violet (may contain salicylates, amines or glutamates) | CAUTION |
| 164 | Saffron or crocetin or crocin (commercial saffron may be mixed with artificial colour 102. Pure color from the saffron plant is safe) | CAUTION |
| 171 | Titanium dioxide, or mineral colour, white, CI 77891 | OK |
| 172 | Iron oxide, red, black, yellow mineral colours, CI 77491 | OK |
| 173 | Aluminum, mineral colour | OK |
| 174 | Silver, mineral colour | OK |
| 175 | Gold, mineral colour | OK |
| 181 | Tannic acid or tannins, brown (may contain high salicylates, amines or glutamates). Large doses can cause gastric problems. | CAUTION |
| Preservatives - sorbates (related with food intolerance reactions) | ||
| 200 | Sorbic acid (skin irritant) | AVOID |
| 201 | Sodium sorbate (manufactured from sorbic acid) | AVOID |
| 202 | Potassium sorbate (possible liver damage) | AVOID |
| 203 | Calcium sorbate (manufactured from sorbic acid) | AVOID |
| Preservatives - benzoates (related with food intolerance reactions) | ||
| 210 | Benzoic acid (large doses can induce gastrointestinal problems) | AVOID |
| 211 | Sodium benzoate (nettle rash sufferers are likely to be sensitive) | AVOID |
| 212 | Potassium benzoate (nettle rash sufferers are likely to be sensitive) | AVOID |
| 213 | Calcium benzoate (nettle rash sufferers are likely to be sensitive) | AVOID |
| 216 | Propylparaben or Propyl-p-hydroxy-benzoate (sometimes included in medications, possible skin irritant) | CAUTION |
| 218 | Methylparaben or Methyl-p-hydroxy-benzoate (sometimes included in medications) | CAUTION |
| Preservatives - sulphites, sulfites (are linked with intolerance reactions but particularly asthma. Not to be confused with sulphates 514-519 which are safe | ||
| 220 | Sulphur dioxide, (can be fatal to asthmatics) | AVOID |
| 221 | Sodium sulphite or sulfite (gastric irritation, nettle rash) | AVOID |
| 222 | Sodium bisulphate or bisulfite (gastric irritation, nettle rash) | AVOID |
| 223 | Sodium metabisulphite orvmetabisulfite, meta (gastric irritation, nettle rash) | AVOID |
| 224 | Potassium metabisulphite, or metabisulfite, meta | AVOID |
| 225 | Potassium sulphite, or sulfite | AVOID |
| 228 | Potassium bisulphite, or sulfite | AVOID |
| 234 | Nisin (naturally occurring antibiotic) | OK |
| 235 | Natamycin or pimaricin (naturally occuring antibiotic) | OK |
| 242 | Dimethyl dicarbonate (preservative reclassified as a Processing Aid, like ozone, hydrogen peroxide, lactoperoxidase, sodium thiocyanate and octanoic acid) | OK |
| 243 | Ethyl lauroyl arginate (antimicrobial) | OK |
| Preservatives - nitrates and nitrites (also colour fixative function. | ||
| 249 | Potassium nitrite (carrying ability of blood can be effected) | AVOID |
| 250 | Sodium nitrite (carrying ability of blood can be effected) | AVOID |
| 251 | Sodium nitrate (carrying ability of blood can be effected) | AVOID |
| 252 | Potassium nitrate (potential carcinogen) | AVOID |
| Food acids | ||
| 260 | Acetic acid, glacial | OK |
| 261 | Potassium acetate also called Potassium diacetate (to be avoided by those with poor kidneys) | CAUTION |
| 262 | Sodium acetate, or Sodium diacetate | OK |
| 263 | Calcium acetate | OK |
| 264 | Ammonium acetate | OK |
| 270 | Lactic acid | OK |
| Preservatives - propionates (found in bakery products in Australia, UK and USA, seldom used in Europe. Hidden under names suchas ‘cultured dextrose’ and certain other ‘cultured’ ingredients) | ||
| 280 | Propionic acid | AVOID |
| 281 | Sodium propionate (causes possible migraines) | AVOID |
| 282 | Calcium propionate (skin irritation, migraine) | AVOID |
| 283 | Potassium propionate (causes possible migraines) | AVOID |
| 290 | Carbon dioxide (propellant manufactured from yeast fermentation) | OK |
| 296 | Malic acid (food acid) (may not be well digested by children) | OK |
| 297 | Fumaric acid (food acid) | OK |
| Antioxidants (Gallates and TBHQ, BHA and BHT are used to preserve vegetable oils and margarines. When vegetable oils are used in other products, these antioxidants are often unlisted because of the 5% labelling loophole. BHA and BHT can also leach into products from cereal wrappers and clingfilm. Antioxidants 300-309 are failsafe) | ||
| 300 | Ascorbic acid | OK |
| 301 | Sodium ascorbate (synthetic sodium salt of ascorbic acid) | OK |
| 302 | Calcium ascorbate (suggested avoidance for those with kidney stones) | OK |
| 303 | Potassium ascorbate | OK |
| 304 | Ascorbyl palmitate | OK |
| 307 | α-Tocopherolalso known as Vitamin E | OK |
| 307b | Tocopherols concentrate, mixed, Vitamin E | OK |
| 308 | δ-Tocopherol, synthetic | OK |
| 309 | γ-Tocopherol, synthetic | OK |
| 310 | Propyl gallate (not permitted in foods for infants) | AVOID |
| 311 | Octyl gallate (not permitted in foods for infants) | AVOID |
| 312 | Dodecyl gallate (not permitted in foods for infants) | AVOID |
| 315 | Erythorbic acid (from sucrose) | OK |
| 316 | Sodium erythorbate | OK |
| 319 | tert-Butylhydroquinone, or TBHQ (potential nausea, vomiting, dizziness) | AVOID |
| 320 | Butylated hydroxyanisole, or BHA (possible carcinogen) | AVOID |
| 321 | Butylated hydroxytoluene, or BHT (not permitted in foods for infants) | AVOID |
| 322 | Lecithin | OK |
| More food acids | ||
| 325 | Sodium lactate (unsuitable for very young or lactase intolerant children) | OK |
| 326 | Potassium lactate (unsuitable for very young or lactase intolerant children) | OK |
| 327 | Calcium lactate | OK |
| 328 | Ammonium lactate (unsuitable for very young children with lactase intolerance) | OK |
| 329 | Magnesium lactate (unsuitable for very young children with lactase intolerance) | OK |
| 330 | Citric acid | CAUTION |
| 331 | Sodium citrate or Sodium dihydrogen citrate | OK |
| 332 | Potassium citrate or Potassium dihydrogen citrate | OK |
| 333 | Calcium citrate | OK |
| 334 | Tartaric acid (large doses can be mildly irritating) | OK |
| 335 | Sodium tartrate | OK |
| 336 | Potassium tartrate or Potassium acid tartrate | OK |
| 338 | Phosphoric acid | OK |
| Mineral salts | ||
| 339 | Sodium phosphate, or dibasic, or monobasic, or tribasic | OK |
| 340 | Potassium phosphate, or dibasic, or monobasic, or tribasic | OK |
| 341 | Calcium phosphate, dibasic or calcium hydrogen phosphate, monobasic or calcium dihydrogen phosphate, tribasic | OK |
| 342 | Ammonium phosphate, also known as dibasic, monobasic or Ammonium dihydrogen phosphates | OK |
| 343 | Magnesium phosphate, also known as dibasic, monobasic, tribasic | OK |
| 349 | Ammonium malate | OK |
| 350 | Sodium malate, also called Sodium hydrogen malate | OK |
| 351 | Potassium malate | OK |
| 352 | Calcium malate | OK |
| 353 | Metatartaric acid | OK |
| 354 | Calcium tartrate | OK |
| 355 | Adipic acid | OK |
| 357 | Potassium adipate | OK |
| 359 | Ammonium adipates | OK |
| 363 | Succinic acid | OK |
| 365 | Sodium fumarate | OK |
| 366 | Potassium fumarate | OK |
| 367 | Calcium fumarate | OK |
| 368 | Ammonium fumarate | OK |
| 380 | Ammonium citrate, or Triammonium citrate | OK |
| 381 | Ferric ammonium citrate | OK |
| 385 | Calcium disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate or calcium disodium EDTA | OK |
| Vegetable gums and thickeners | ||
| 400 | Alginic acid | OK |
| 401 | Sodium alginate | OK |
| 402 | Potassium alginate | OK |
| 403 | Ammonium alginate | OK |
| 404 | Calcium alginate | OK |
| 405 | Propylene glycol alginate | OK |
| 406 | Agar (large amounts can cause stomach bloating and gas) | OK |
| 407 | Carrageenan (may be carcinogenic) | AVOID |
| 407a | Processed eucheuma or seaweed | OK |
| 409 | Arabinogalactan or larch gum | OK |
| 410 | Locust bean gum also known as carob bean gum | OK |
| 412 | Guar gum | OK |
| 413 | Tragacanth gum (large amounts can cause stomach bloating and gas) | OK |
| 414 | Acacia or gum Arabic | OK |
| 415 | Xanthan gum | OK |
| 416 | Karaya gum | OK |
| 417 | Tara gum | OK |
| 418 | Gellan gum | OK |
| Humectants also used as sweeteners (overconsumption may cause laxative effects) | ||
| 420 | Sorbitol or sorbitol syrup (over consumption may have a laxative effect) | CAUTION |
| 421 | Mannitol (over consumption may have a laxative effect) | CAUTION |
| 422 | Glycerin or glycerol | OK |
| Emulsifiers | OK | |
| 431 | Polyoxyethylene (40) stearate | OK |
| 433 | Polysorbate 80 or Polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monooleate | OK |
| 435 | Polysorbate 60 or Polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monostearate | OK |
| 436 | Polysorbate 65 or Polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan tristearate | OK |
| 440 | Pectin | OK |
| 442 | Ammonium salts of phosphatidic acid | OK |
| 444 | Sucrose acetate isobutyrate | OK |
| 445 | Glycerol esters of wood rosins | OK |
| More mineral salts | ||
| 450 | Pyrophosphates, Potassium pyrophosphate, Sodium acid pyrophosphate, Sodium pyrophosphate | OK |
| 451 | Triphosphates, Potassium tripolyphosphate, Sodium tripolyphosphate | OK |
| 452 | Polyphosphates, Potassium polymetaphosphate, Sodium metaphosphate, insoluble, Sodium polyphosphates, glassy | OK |
| Thickeners | ||
| 455 | Yeast mannoproteins | OK |
| 460 | Cellulose microcrystalline (anti-caking agent) | OK |
| 460 | Cellulose, powdered (anti-caking agent) | OK |
| 461 | Methyl cellulose | OK |
| 463 | Hydroxypropyl cellulose | OK |
| 464 | Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose | OK |
| 465 | Methyl ethyl cellulose | OK |
| 466 | Sodium carboxymethylcellulose (large amounts can cause stomach bloating and gas, suspected carcinogen) | CAUTION |
| Emulsifiers | ||
| 470 | Fatty acid salts of aluminium, ammonia, calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium(can irritate bowel lining and skin) | CAUTION |
| 471 | Mono- and di-glycerides of fatty acids | OK |
| 472a | Acetic and fatty acid esters of glycerol | OK |
| 472b | Lactic and fatty acid esters of glycerol | OK |
| 472c | Citric and fatty acid esters of glycerol | OK |
| 472e | Diacetyltartaric and fatty acid esters of glycerol | OK |
| 472f | Mixed tartaric, acetic and fatty acid esters of glycerol or tartaric, acetic and fatty acid esters of glycerol (mixed) | OK |
| 473 | Sucrose esters of fatty acids | OK |
| 475 | Polyglycerol esters of fatty acids | OK |
| 476 | Polyglycerol esters of interesterified ricinoleic acid | OK |
| 477 | Propylene glycol mono- and di-esters or Propylene glycol esters of fatty acids | OK |
| 480 | Dioctyl sodium sulphosuccinate | OK |
| 481 | Sodium lactylate, oleyl lactylate, stearoyl lactylate | OK |
| 482 | Calcium lactylate, oleyl lactylate, stearoyl lactylate | OK |
| 491 | Sorbitan monostearate | OK |
| 492 | Sorbitan tristearate | OK |
| Mineral salts (often used as anti-caking agents too) | ||
| 500 | Sodium bicarbonate or Sodium carbonate | OK |
| 501 | Potassium bicarbonate or Potassium carbonate | OK |
| 503 | Ammonium carbonate or Ammonium hydrogen carbonate | OK |
| 504 | Magnesium carbonate | OK |
| 507 | Hydrochloric acid | OK |
| 508 | Potassium chloride (Large amounts associated with gastric ulcers, should not be given to children) | CAUTION |
| 509 | Calcium chloride (possible stomach irritant) | CAUTION |
| 510 | Ammonium chloride (large amounts can cause acidosis) | CAUTION |
| 511 | Magnesium chloride | OK |
| 512 | Stannous chloride | OK |
| 514 | Sodium sulphate | OK |
| 515 | Potassium sulphate | OK |
| 516 | Calcium sulphate | OK |
| 518 | Magnesium sulphate (laxative) | OK |
| 519 | Cupric sulphate | CAUTION |
| 526 | Calcium hydroxide | OK |
| 529 | Calcium oxide | OK |
| 530 | Magnesium oxide | OK |
| 535 | Sodium ferrocyanide | OK |
| 536 | Potassium ferrocyanide | OK |
| 541 | Sodium aluminium phosphate | OK |
| 542 | Bone phosphate (vegetarians may want to avoid) | OK |
| 551 | Silicon dioxide, amorphous | OK |
| 552 | Calcium silicate | OK |
| 553 | Magnesium silicate or Talc (suspected carcinogen) | CAUTION |
| 554 | Sodium aluminosilicate (high intake associated with Alzheimer’s and nerve damage because of aluminum salts) | CAUTION |
| 555 | Potassium aluminium silicate | OK |
| 556 | Calcium aluminium silicate (high intake associated with Alzheimer’s and nerve damage because of aluminum salts) | CAUTION |
| 558 | Bentonite | OK |
| 559 | Aluminium silicate | OK |
| 560 | Potassium silicate | OK |
| 570 | Stearic acid or fatty acid | OK |
| 575 | Glucono δ-lactone or Glucono delta-lactone | OK |
| 576 | Sodium gluconate | OK |
| 577 | Potassium gluconate | OK |
| 578 | Calcium gluconate | OK |
| 579 | Ferrous gluconate | OK |
| 580 | Magnesium gluconate | OK |
| 586 | 4-hexylresorcinol | OK |
| Flavour enhancers, glutamates and glutamate boosters (often hidden as yeast extract, hydrolysed vegetable protein HVP or hydrolysed plant protein HPP | ||
| 620 | L-glutamic acid (unsuitable for infants and small children) | AVOID |
| 621 | Monosodium L-glutamate or MSG (unsuitable for infants and small children) | AVOID |
| 622 | Monopotassium L-glutamate (allergic responses-nausea, vomiting) | AVOID |
| 623 | Calcium glutamate | AVOID |
| 624 | Monoammonium L-glutamate | AVOID |
| 625 | Magnesium glutamate | AVOID |
| 627 | Disodium-5′-guanylate (prohibited in foods for infants or young children) | AVOID |
| 631 | Disodium-5′-inosinate (prohibited in foods for infants or young children) | AVOID |
| 635 | Disodium-5′-ribonucleotides | AVOID |
| 636 | Maltol (naturally occurring flavour enhancer) | OK |
| 637 | Ethyl maltol | OK |
| 640 | Glycine | OK |
| 641 | L-Leucine | OK |
| Miscellaneous additives | ||
| 900a | Polydimethylsiloxane or Dimethylpolysiloxane (emulsifier, antifoaming agent, anti- caking agent) (possible carcinogen) | CAUTION |
| 901 | Beeswax, white and yellow (glazing agent) | OK |
| 903 | Carnauba wax (glazing agent) | OK |
| 904 | Shellac (glazing agent) | OK |
| 905a | Mineral oil, white (petroleum) | OK |
| 905b | Petrolatum or petroleum jelly (glazing agent) | OK |
| 914 | Oxidised polyethylene (humectant) | OK |
| 920 | L-cysteine monohydrochloride | OK |
| 925 | Chlorine (flour treatment agent)(oxidizes other nutrients) | CAUTION |
| 926 | Chlorine dioxide (flour treatment agent) | OK |
| 928 | Benzoyl peroxide (flour treatment agent) | OK |
| Propellants | ||
| 941 | Nitrogen | OK |
| 942 | Nitrous oxide | OK |
| 943a | Butane | OK |
| 943b | Isobutane | OK |
| 944 | Propane | OK |
| 946 | Octafluorocyclobutane | OK |
| Artificial sweeteners (may increase appetite and generally not recommended) | ||
| 950 | Acesulphame potassium | CAUTION |
| 951 | Aspartame, Nutrasweet, Equal (may cause headaches and hyperactivity) | CAUTION |
| 952 | Cyclamate or calcium cyclamate or sodium cyclamate (potential carcinogen) | CAUTION |
| 953 | Isomalt (excess consumption may have a laxative effect) | OK |
| 954 | Saccharin | CAUTION |
| 955 | Sucralose | CAUTION |
| 956 | Alitame | CAUTION |
| 957 | Thaumatin | OK |
| 960 | Steviol glycosides | OK |
| 961 | Neotame | CAUTION |
| 962 | Aspartame-acesulphame salt | CAUTION |
| 965 | Maltitol and maltitol syrup or hydrogenated glucose syrup (over consumption can have a laxative effect) | CAUTION |
| 966 | Lactitol (excess consumption can have a laxative effect) | CAUTION |
| 967 | Xylitol (excess consumption can have a laxative effect) | CAUTION |
| 968 | Erythritol (excess consumption can have a laxative effect) | CAUTION |
| 969 | Advantame | CAUTION |
| Foaming agents | ||
| 999(i) | Quillaia extract (type 1) | CAUTION |
| 999(ii) | Quillaia extract (type 2) | CAUTION |
| Additional chemicals | ||
| 1001 | Choline salts | OK |