Name

E #

Usage

Facts you need to know

Allura 

Red AC

E129

Food coloring in snacks, sauces, preserves, soups, wine, cider, etc.

Avoid if you suffer from asthma, rhinitis (including hayfever), or urticaria (hives).

Amaranth

E123

Food coloring in wine, spirits, fish roe.

Banned in the U.S. Avoid if you suffer from asthma, rhinitis, urticaria or other allergies.

Aspartame

E951

Sweetener in snacks, sweets, alcohol, desserts, ~diet" foods

May affect people with PKU (phenylketonuria). Recent reports show possibility of headaches, blindness, and seizures with long-term high doses of aspartame.

Benzoic acid

E210

Preservative in many foods, including drinks, low sugar products, cereals, meat products.

Can temporarily inhibit the function of digestive enzymes. May deplete glycine levels. Avoid ifyou suffer from asthma, rhinitis, urticaria or other allergies.

Brilliant 

Black BN

E151

In drinks, sauces, snacks, wines, cheese, etc.

Avoid if you suffer from asthma, rhinitis, urticaria, or other allergies.

Butylated Hydroxy-anisole

E320

Preservative, particularly in fat-containing foods, confectionery, meats.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer says BHA is possibly carcinogenic to humans. BHA also interacts with nitrites to form chemicals known to cause changes in the DNA of cells.

Calcium benzoate

E213

Preservative in many foods, including drinks, low-sugar products, cereals, meat products.

Can temporarily inhibit function of digestive enzymes and may deplete levels ofthe amino acid glycine. Should be avoided by those with hay fever, hives, and asthma.

Calcium sulphite

E226

Preservative in a vast array of foods-from burgers to biscuits, from frozen mushrooms to horseradish. Used to make old produce look fresh.

In the U.S., sulphites are banned from many foods, including meat. They can cause bronchial problems, flushing, low blood pressure, tingling, and anaphylactic shock. The International Labour Organization says avoid them ifyou suffer from bronchial asthma, cardiovascular or respiratory problems and emphysema.

Monosodium glutamate (MSG)

E621

Flavor enhancer.

Has been known to cause pressure on the head, seizures, chest pains, headache, nausea, burning sensations, and tightness of face. Many baby food producers have stopped adding MSG to their products.

Ponceau 4R, Conchineal 

Red A

E124

Food coloring.

People who suffer from asthma, rhinitis or urticaria may find their symptoms become worse following consumption of foods containing this coloring.

Potassium benozoate

E212

See calcium benzoate.

See calcium benzoate.

Potassium nitrate

E249

Preservative in cured meats and canned meat products.

It can lower the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood; it may combine with other substances to form nitrosamines, which are carcinogenic; and it may have an atrophying effect on the adrenal gland.

Propyl p-hydroxybenozoate, propylparaben, and paraben

F216

Preservative in cereals, snacks, pate, meat products, confectionery.

Parabens have been identified as the cause of chronic dermatitis in numerous instances.

Saccharin & its 

Na, K and Ca salts

E954

Sweetener in diet, and no-sugar products.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer has concluded that saccharin is possibly carcinogenic to humans.

Sodium metabisulphite

Preservative and antioxidant.

May provoke life-threatening asthma.

Sodium sulphite

E221

Preservative used in wine-making and other processed foods.

Sulphites have been associated with triggering asthma attacks. Most asthmatics are sensitive to sulphites in food.

Stannous chloride (tin)

E512

Antioxidant and color-retention agent in canned and bottled foods, fruit juices.

Acute poisoning has been reported from ingestion of fruit juices containing concentrations of tin greater than 250 mg per liter.

Sulphur dioxide

E220

Preservative.

Sulphur dioxide reacts with a wide range of substances found in food, including various essential vitamins, minerals, enzymes and essential fatty acids. Adverse reactions: bronchial problems particularly in those prone to asthma, hypotension (low blood pressure), flushing tingling sensations or anaphylactic shock. International Labour Organization says to avoid E220 if you suffer from conjunctivitis, bronchitis, emphysema, bronchial asthma, or cardiovascular disease.

Sunset Yellow 

FCF, Orange 

Yellow S

E110

Food coloring.

Some animal studies have indicated growth retardation and severe weight loss. People with asthma, rhinitis, or urticaria should avoid this product.

Tartrazine

E102

Yellow food coloring.

May cause allergic reactions and asthmatic attacks and has been implicated in bouts of hyperactivity disorder in children. Those who suffer from asthma, rhinitis and urticaria may find symptoms worsen after consumption.