Food additives include preservatives, flavourings and colourings. Other additives are also used in processing to help improve the taste, texture and appearance of foods. Some food additives are important in keeping our food supply safe to eat by preventing spoilage, others enhance flavour, appearance or preparation of foods. The ANZFA carefully regulate the types and amounts that can be included in the food supply. For most people, foods containing additives are perfectly safe and there is no need to be concerned about eating them as part of a healthy, varied diet. However, some people may be intolerant or allergic to certain food additives and will therefore need to be careful about eating these. For further information see Allergy and Food Intolerance and Sensitivities.
In Australia, food additives are numbered using an approved numbering system. These numbers are used in the ingredient lists on food labels to help people identify which additives have been used in different food products.
If an allergy or intolerance to certain food additives is suspected, it is important that you see an
Accredited Practising Dietitian
for more information on food additives and expert advice before changing your diet. Eliminating certain foods from your diet without such professional advice may mean you miss out on important nutrients.
Here is a list of food additives, preservatives and their additive number. Look forward to a page discussing of the effect of these additives on childrens health and behavour.
Press Ctrl and F at the same time and enter the additive number to find, or download the PDF version to print.
| Curcumin or Turmeric (colour) |
100 |
| Riboflavin or Riboflavin 5’-phosphate sodium(colour) |
101 |
| Tartrazine (colour) |
102 |
| Alkanet or Alkannin (colour) |
103 |
| Quinoline yellow (colour) |
104 |
| Sunset yellow FCF (colour) |
110 |
| Carmines or Carminic acid or Cochineal (colour) |
120 |
| Azorubine or Carmoisine (colour) |
122 |
| Amaranth (colour) |
123 |
| Ponceau 4R (colour) |
124 |
| Erythrosine (colour) |
127 |
| Allura red AC (colour) |
129 |
| Indigotine (colour) |
132 |
| Brilliant blue FCF (colour) |
133 |
| Chlorophyll (colour) |
140 |
| Chlorophyll-copper complex (colour) |
141 |
| Green S (colour) |
142 |
| Fast green FCF (colour) |
143 |
| Caramel I (colour) |
150a |
| Caramel II (colour) |
150b |
| Caramel III (colour) |
150c |
| Caramel IV (colour) |
150d |
| Brilliant black BN or Brilliant black PN (colour) |
151 |
| Carbon black or vegetable carbon (colour) |
153 |
| Brown HT (colour) |
155 |
| Carotene (colour) ) |
160a |
| Annatto extracts (colour) |
160b |
| Paprika oleoresins (colour) |
160c |
| Lycopene (colour) |
160d |
| -apo-8. Carotenal (colour) |
160e |
| -apo-8. Carotenoic acid or methyl ethyl ester
(colour) |
160f |
| Flavoxanthin (colour) |
161a |
| Lutein (colour) |
161b |
| Kryptoxanthin (colour) |
161c |
| Rubixanthin (colour) |
161d |
| Violoxanthin (colour) |
161e |
| Rhodoxanthin (colour) |
161f |
| Beet red (colour) |
162 |
| Anthocyanins or Grape skin extract or Blackcurrant extract (colour) |
163 |
| Saffron or Crocetin or Crocin (colour) |
164 |
| Calcium carbonate (colour, anti-caking agent) |
170 |
| Titanium dioxide (colour) |
171 |
| Iron oxide (colour) |
172 |
| Aluminium (colour) |
173 |
| Silver (colour) |
174 |
| Gold (colour) |
175 |
| Tannic acid or tannins (colour, emulsifier, stabiliser, thickener) |
181 |
| Sorbic acid (preservative) |
200 |
| Sodium sorbate (preservative) |
201 |
| Potassium sorbate (preservative) |
202 |
| Calcium sorbate (preservative) |
203 |
| Benzoic acid (preservative) |
210 |
| Sodium benzoate (preservative) |
211 |
| Potassium benzoate (preservative) |
212 |
| Calcium benzoate (preservative) |
213 |
| Propylparaben or Propyl-p-hydroxy-benzoate
(preservative) |
216 |
| Methylparaben or Methyl-p-hydroxy-benzoate
(preservative) |
218 |
| Sulphur dioxide (preservative) |
220 |
| Sodium sulphite (preservative) |
221 |
| Sodium bisulphite (preservative) |
222 |
| Sodium metabisulphite (preservative) |
223 |
| Potassium metabisulphite (preservative) | 224 |
| Potassium sulphite (preservative) |
225 |
| Potassium bisulphite (preservative) |
228 |
| Nisin (preservative) |
234 |
| Natamycin or Pimaricin (preservative) |
235 |
| Dimethyl dicarbonate (preservative) |
242 |
| Potassium nitrite (preservative, colour fixative) |
249 |
| Sodium nitrite (preservative, colour fixative) |
250 |
| Sodium nitrate (preservative, colour fixative) |
251 |
| Potassium nitrate (preservative, colour fixative) |
252 |
| Acetic acid, glacial (acidity regulator) |
260 |
| Potassium acetate or Potassium diacetate (acidity regulator) |
261 |
| Sodium acetates (acidity regulator) |
262 |
| Calcium acetate (acidity regulator) |
263 |
| Ammonium acetate (acidity regulator) |
264 |
| Lactic acid (acidity regulator) |
270 |
| Propionic acid (preservative) |
280 |
| Sodium propionate (preservative) |
281 |
| Calcium propionate (preservative) |
282 |
| Potassium propionate (preservative) |
283 |
| Carbon dioxide (propellant) |
290 |
| Malic acid (acidity regulator) |
296 |
| Fumaric acid (acidity regulator) |
297 |
| Ascorbic acid (antioxidant) |
300 |
| Sodium ascorbate (antioxidant) |
301 |
| Calcium ascorbate (antioxidant) |
302 |
| Potassium ascorbate (antioxidant) |
303 |
| Ascorbyl palmitate (antioxidant) |
304 |
| Tocopherols concentrate, mixed (antioxidant) |
306 |
| a-Tocopherol (antioxidant) |
307 |
| -Tocopherol (antioxidant) |
308 |
| -Tocopherol (antioxidant) |
309 |
| Propyl gallate (antioxidant) |
310 |
| Octyl gallate (antioxidant) |
311 |
| Dodecyl gallate (antioxidant) |
312 |
| Erythorbic acid (antioxidant) |
315 |
| Sodium erythorbate (antioxidant) |
316 |
| tert-Butylhydroquinone (antioxidant) |
319 |
| Butylated hydroxyanisole (antioxidant) |
320 |
| Butylated hydroxytoluene (antioxidant) |
321 |
| Lecithin (antioxidant, emulsifier) |
322 |
| Sodium lactate (acidity regulator, humectant,
bulking agent) |
325 |
| Potassium lactate (acidity regulator, humectant,
bulking agent) |
326 |
| Calcium lactate (acidity regulator) |
327 |
| Ammonium lactate (acidity regulator) |
328 |
| Magnesium lactate (acidity regulator) |
329 |
| Citric acid (acidity regulator, antioxidant) |
330 |
| Sodium citrates (acidity regulator, emulsifier, stabiliser) |
331 |
| Potassium citrates (acidity regulator, stabiliser) |
332 |
| Calcium citrates (acidity regulator, stabiliser) |
333 |
| Tartaric acid (acidity regulator, antioxidant) |
334 |
| Sodium tartrates (acidity regulator) |
335 |
| Potassium tartrate or Potassium acid tartrate (acidity regulator, stabiliser) |
336 |
| Potassium sodium tartrate (acidity regulator,
stabiliser) |
337 |
| Phosphoric acid (acidity regulator) |
338 |
| Sodium phosphates (acidity regulator, emulsifier, stabiliser) |
339 |
| Potassium phosphates (acidity regulator, emulsifier, stabiliser) |
340 |
| Calcium phosphates (acidity regulator, emulsifier, stabiliser, anti-caking agent) |
341 |
| Ammonium phosphates (acidity regulator) |
342 |
| Magnesium phosphates (acidity regulator, anticaking agent) |
343 |
| Ammonium malate (acidity regulator) |
349 |
| Sodium malates (acidity regulator, humectant) |
350 |
| Potassium malates (acidity regulator) |
351 |
| Calcium malates (acidity regulator) |
352 |
| Metatartaric acid (acidity regulator) |
353 |
| Calcium tartrate (acidity regulator) |
354 |
| Adipic acid (acidity regulator) |
355 |
| Potassium adipate (acidity regulator) |
357 |
| Ammonium adipates (acidity regulator) |
359 |
| Succinic acid (acidity regulator) |
363 |
| Sodium fumarate (acidity regulator) |
365 |
| Potassium fumarate (acidity regulator) |
366 |
| Calcium fumarate (acidity regulator) |
367 |
| Ammonium fumarate (acidity regulator) |
368 |
| Ammonium citrate or triammonium citrate (acidity regulator) |
380 |
| Ferric ammonium citrate (acidity regulator, anticaking agent) |
381 |
| Calcium disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate or calcium disodium EDTA (preservative, antioxidant) |
385 |
| Alginic acid (thickener, stabiliser) |
400 |
| Sodium alginate (thickener, stabiliser, gelling agent) |
401 |
| Potassium alginate (thickener, stabiliser) |
402 |
| Ammonium alginate (thickener, stabiliser) |
403 |
| Calcium alginate (thickener, stabiliser, gelling agent) |
404 |
| Propylene glycol alginate (thickener, emulsifier) |
405 |
| Agar (thickener, gelling agent, stabiliser) |
406 |
| Carrageenan (thickener, gelling agent, stabiliser) |
407 |
| Processed eucheuma seaweed (thickener, gelling agent, stabiliser) |
407a |
| Arabinogalactan or Larch gum (thickener, gelling agent, stabiliser) |
409 |
| Locust bean gum or Carob bean gum (thickener, stabiliser) |
410 |
| Guar gum (thickener, stabiliser) |
412 |
| Tragacanth gum (thickener, stabiliser) |
413 |
| Acacia or gum Arabic (thickener, stabiliser) |
414 |
| Xanthan gum (thickener, stabiliser) |
415 |
| Karaya gum (thickener, stabiliser) |
416 |
| Gellan gum (thickener, stabiliser, gelling agent) |
418 |
| Sorbitol or sorbitol syrup (sweetener, humectant, emulsifier) |
420 |
| Sorbitan tristearate (emulsifier) |
492 |
| Sodium carbonate or Sodium bicarbonate (acidity regulator, raising agent, anti-caking agent) |
500 |
| Potassium carbonates (acidity regulator, stabiliser) |
501 |
| Ammonium bicarbonate or Ammonium hydrogen carbonate (acidity regulator, raising agent) |
503 |
| Magnesium carbonate (acidity regulator, anticaking agent) |
504 |
| Hydrochloric acid (acidity regulator) |
507 |
| Potassium chloride (gelling agent) |
508 |
| Calcium chloride (firming agent) |
509 |
| Ammonium chloride (bulking agent) |
510 |
| Magnesium chloride (firming agent) |
511 |
| Stannous chloride (antioxidant) |
512 |
| Sodium sulphate (acidity regulator) |
514 |
| Potassium sulphate (acidity regulator) |
515 |
| Calcium sulphate (firming agent) |
516 |
| Magnesium sulphate (firming agent) |
518 |
| Cupric sulphate (mineral salt) |
519 |
| Calcium hydroxide (acidity regulator, firming agent) |
526 |
| Calcium oxide (acidity regulator) |
529 |
| Magnesium oxide (anti-caking agent) |
530 |
| Sodium ferrocyanide (anti-caking agent) | 535 |
| Potassium ferrocyanide (anti-caking agent) |
536 |
| Sodium aluminium phosphate (acidity regulator, emulsifier) |
541 |
| Bone phosphate (anti-caking agent, emulsifier) |
542 |
| Silicon dioxide, amorphous (anti-caking agent) |
551 |
| Calcium silicate (anti-caking agent) |
552 |
| Magnesium silicate or Talc (anti-caking agent) |
553 |
| Sodium aluminosilicate (anti-caking agent) | 554 |
| Potassium aluminium silicate) |
555 |
| Calcium aluminium silicate (anti-caking agent) |
556 |
| Bentonite (anti-caking agent) |
558 |
| Aluminium silicate |
559 |
| Potassium silicate (anti-caking agent) |
560 |
| Stearic acid or fatty acid (glazing agent, foaming agent) |
570 |
| Glucono _-lactone or Glucono delta-lactone
(acidity regulator, raising agent) |
575 |
| Potassium gluconate (sequestrant) |
577 |
| Calcium gluconate (acidity regulator, firming agent) |
578 |
| Ferrous gluconate (colour retention agent) | 579 |
| Magnesium gluconate (acidity regulatory, firming agent) |
580 |
| 4-Hexylresorcinol (antioxidant) |
586 |
| L-Glutamic acid (flavour enhancer) |
620 |
| Monosodium L-glutamate or MSG (flavour
enhancer) |
621 |
| Monopotassium L-glutamate (flavour enhancer) |
622 |
| Calcium glutamate (flavour enhancer) |
623 |
| Monoammonium L-glutamate (flavour enhancer) |
624 |
| Magnesium glutamate |
625 |
| Disodium 5‘-guanylate (flavour enhancer) |
627 |
| Disodium 5‘-inosinate (flavour enhancer) |
631 |
| Disodium 5'-ribonucleotides (flavour enhancer) |
635 |
| Maltol (flavour enhancer) |
636 |
| Ethyl maltol (flavour enhancer) |
637 |
| Glycine (flavour enhancer) |
640 |
| L-Leucine (flavour enhancer) |
641 |
| Polydimethylsiloxane or Dimethylpolysiloxane (anti caking agent, emulsifier) |
900a |
| Beeswax, white and yellow (glazing agent) |
901 |
| Shellac (glazing agent) |
904 |
| Petrolatum or petroleum jelly (glazing agent) |
905b |
| Oxidised polyethylene (humectant) |
914 |
| L-Cysteine monohydrochloride (raising agent) |
920 |
| Nitrogen (propellant) |
941 |
| Nitrous oxide (propellant) |
942 |
| Butane (propellant) |
943a |
| Isobutane (propellant) |
943b |
| Propane (propellant) |
944 |
| Octafluorocyclobutane (propellant) |
946 |
| Acesulphame potassium (sweetener) |
950 |
| Aspartame (sweetener) |
951 |
| Calcium cyclamate or sodium cyclamate or cyclamate (sweetener) |
952 |
| Isomalt (humectant, sweetener, bulking agent, anti caking agent) |
953 |
| Saccharin or calcium saccharin or sodium saccharine or potassium saccharine (sweetener) |
954 |
| Sucralose (sweetener) |
955 |
| Alitame (sweetener) |
956 |
| Thaumatin (flavour enhancer, sweetener) |
957 |
| Neotame (sweetener) |
961 |
| Propane (propellant) |
944 |
| Propane (propellant) |
944 |
| Propane (propellant) |
944 |
| Propane (propellant) |
944 |
| Propane (propellant) |
944 |
| Propane (propellant) |
944 |
| Propane (propellant) |
944 |
