List of food additives
This is an alphabetical list of food additives.   For related lists, see also: List of food additives, Codex Alimentarius and  E number.

# List of food additive types
- Acidity regulators
- Anti-caking agents
- Anti-foaming agents
- Food coloring
- Color fixatives
- Color retention agents
- Emulsifiers
- Firming agents
- Flavor enhancer
- Flour treatment agents
- Food acids
- Gelling agents
- Glazing agents
- Humectants
- Improving agents
- Mineral salts
- Preservatives
Antioxidants
- Antioxidants
- Propellants
- Seasonings
- Sequestrants
- Stabilizers
- Sweeteners
Artificial sweeteners
- Artificial sweeteners
- Thickeners
- Vegetable gums
Caffeine and other GRAS (generally recognized as safe) additives such as sugar and salt are not required to go through the regulation process.

# Alphabetical index of food additives
- 1,4-heptonolactone - food acid
- 2-hydroxybiphenyl - preservative

# A
- Abietic acid -
- Acacia vera -
- Acacia -
- Acesulfame potassium - artificial sweetener
- Acesulfame -
- Acetic acid - acidity regulator
- Acetic acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids - emulsifier
- Acetylated distarch adipate - thickener, vegetable gum
- Acetylated distarch phosphate - thickener, vegetable gum
- Acetylated oxidised starch - thickener, vegetable gum
- Acetylated starch - thickener, vegetable gum
- Acid treated starch - thickener, vegetable gum
- Adipic acid - food acid
- Agar - thickener, vegetable gum, stabilizer, gelling agent
- Alcohol -
- Alfalfa -
- Alginic acid - thickener, vegetable gum, stabilizer, gelling agent, emulsifier
- Alitame - artificial sweetener
- Alkaline treated starch - thickener, vegetable gum
- Alkanet - color (red)
- Allspice -
- Allura red AC - color (FDA: FD&C Red #40)
- Almond oil - used as a substitute for olive oil. Also used as an emollient.
- Aluminium - color (silver)
- Aluminium ammonium sulfate - mineral salt
- Aluminium potassium sulfate - mineral salt
- Aluminium silicate - anti-caking agent
- Aluminium sodium sulfate - mineral salt
- Aluminium sulfate - mineral salt
- Amaranth - color (red) (FDA:  Red #2) Note that amaranth dye is unrelated to the amaranth plant
- Amaranth oil - high in squalene and unsaturated fatty acids - used in food and cosmetic industries.
- Amchur (mango powder)
- Ammonium acetate - preservative, acidity regulator
- Ammonium adipates - acidity regulator
- Ammonium alginate - thickener, vegetable gum, stabilizer, gelling agent, emulsifier
- Ammonium bicarbonate - mineral salt
- Ammonium carbonate - mineral salt
- Ammonium chloride - mineral salt
- Ammonium ferrocitrate - food acid
- Ammonium fumarate - food acid
- Ammonium hydroxide - mineral salt
- Ammonium lactate - food acid
- Ammonium malate - food acid
- Ammonium phosphates - mineral salt
- Ammonium phosphatides - emulsifier
- Ammonium polyphosphates - anti-caking agent
- Ammonium sulfate - mineral salt, improving agent
- Amylases - flour treatment agent
- Angelica (Angelica archangelica)
- Anise -
- Annatto - color
- Anthocyanins - color
- Apricot oil - a cooking oil from certain cultivars.
- Arabinogalactan - thickener, vegetable gum
- Argan oil - a food oil from Morocco that has also attracted recent attention in Europe.
- Argon - propellant
- Rocket (Arugula)
- Asafoetida -
- Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) - antioxidant (water soluble)
- Ascorbyl palmitate - antioxidant (fat soluble)
- Ascorbyl stearate - antioxidant (fat soluble)
- Aspartame - artificial sweetener
- Astaxanthin - color
- Avocado oil - used a substitute for olive oil. Also used in cosmetics and skin care products.
- Azodicarbonamide - flour bleaching agent. Also used in the production of foamed plastics and the manufacture of gaskets. Banned as a food additive in Australia and Europe.
- Azorubine - color (red) (FDA: Ext D&C Red #10)

# B
- Babassu oil - similar to, and used as a substitute for coconut oil.
- Baking powder - leavening agent; includes acid and base
- Baking soda - food base
- Balm, lemon -
- Balm oil -
- Balsam peru -
- Barberry -
- Barley flour -
- Basil (Ocimum basilicum) -
- Basil extract -
- Bay leaves -
- Beeswax - glazing agent
- Beet red - color (red)
- Beetroot red - color (red)
- Ben oil - extracted from the seeds of the moringa oleifera. High in behenic acid. Extremely stable edible oil. Also suitable for biofuel.
- Bentonite - anti-caking agent
- Benzoic acid - preservative
- Benzoyl peroxide - flour treatment agent
- Berebere -
- Beta-apo-8'-carotenal (C 30) - color
- Beta-apo-8'-carotenic acid ethyl ester - color
- Betanin - color (red)
- Biphenyl - preservative
- Bison grass (Hierochloe odorata)
- Bixin - color
- Black 7984 - color (brown and black)
- Black cardamom -
- Black cumin -
- Blackcurrant seed oil - used as a food supplement, because of high content of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Also used in cosmetics.
- Black limes -
- Pepper (black, white, and green) -
- Black PN - color (brown and black)
- Bleached starch - thickener, vegetable gum
- Bolivian Coriander (Porophyllum ruderale) -
- Bone phosphate - anti-caking agent
- Borage (Borago officinalis) -
- Borage seed oil - similar to blackcurrant seed oil - used primarily medicinally.
- Borax - preservative
- Boric acid - preservative
- Brilliant Black BN- color (brown and black)
- Brilliant blue FCF - color (FDA: FD&C Blue #1)
- Brilliant Scarlet 4R - color (FDA: Ext D&C Red #8)
- Brominated vegetable oil - emulsifier, stabiliser
- Brown FK - color (brown and black)
- Bush tomato -
- Butane - propellant
- Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) - antioxidant (fat soluble)
- Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) - antioxidant (fat soluble)

# C
- Cacao shell -
- Cachou extract -
- Cactus root extract -
- Cadinene -
- Caffeine - stimulant
- Cajeput oil -
- Calamus -
- Calcium 5'-ribonucleotides - flavor enhancer
- Calcium acetate - preservative, acidity regulator
- Calcium alginate - thickener, vegetable gum, stabilizer, gelling agent, emulsifier
- Calcium ascorbate - antioxidant (water soluble)
- Calcium aluminosilicate (calcium aluminium silicate) - anti-caking agent
- Calcium ascorbate (Vitamin C)
- Calcium benzoate - preservative
- Calcium bisulfite - preservative, antioxidant
- Calcium carbonates - color (white), anticaking agent, stabiliser
- Calcium chloride - mineral salt
- Calcium citrates - food acid, firming agent
- Calcium diglutamate - flavor enhancer
- Calcium disodium EDTA - preservative
- Calcium ferrocyanide - anti-caking agent
- Calcium formate - preservative
- Calcium fumarate - food acid
- Calcium gluconate - acidity regulator
- Calcium guanylate - flavor enhancer
- Calcium hydrogen sulfite - preservative, antioxidant
- Calcium hydroxide - mineral salt
- Calcium inosinate - flavor enhancer
- Calcium lactate - food acid
- Calcium lactobionate - stabilizer
- Calcium malates - food acid
- Calcium oxide - mineral salt
- Calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B5)
- Calcium peroxide -
- Calcium phosphates - mineral salt, anti-caking agent, firming agent
- Calcium polyphosphates - anti-caking agent
- Calcium propionate - preservative
- Calcium salts of fatty acids - emulsifier, stabiliser, anti-caking agent
- Calcium silicate - anti-caking agent
- Calcium sorbate - preservative
- Calcium stearoyl lactylate - emulsifier
- Calcium sulfate - flour treatment agent, mineral salt, sequestrant, improving agent, firming agent
- Calcium sulfite - preservative, antioxidant
- Calcium tartrate - food acid, emulsifier
- False flax oil made of the seeds of Camelina sativa - available in Russia as ????????? ?????. Considered promising as a food or fuel oil.
- Camomile -
- Candelilla wax - glazing agent
- Candle nut -
- Canola oil/Rapeseed oil, one of the most widely used cooking oils, from a (trademarked) cultivar of rapeseed.
- Canthaxanthin - color
- Caper (Capparis spinosa)
- Capsanthin - color
- Capsorubin - color
- Caramel I (plain) - color (brown and black)
- Caramel II (Caustic Sulfite process) - color (brown and black)
- Caramel III (Ammonia process) - color (brown and black)
- Caramel IV (Ammonia sulfite process) - color (brown and black)
- Caraway -
- Carbamide - flour treatment agent
- Carbon black - color (brown and black)
- Carbon dioxide - acidity regulator, propellant
- Cardamom -
- Carmoisine - color (red) (FDA: Ext D&C Red #10)
- Carnauba wax - glazing agent
- Carob Pod -
- Carob pod oil/Algaroba oil, used medicinally.
- Carotenes - color
Alpha-carotene - color
Beta-carotene - color
Gamma-carotene - color
- Alpha-carotene - color
- Beta-carotene - color
- Gamma-carotene - color
- Carrageenan - thickener, vegetable gum, stabilizer, gelling agent, emulsifier
- Carrot oil -
- Cashew oil - somewhat comparable to olive oil. May have value for fighting dental cavities. 
- Cassia -
- Catechu extract -
- Celery salt -
- Celery seed -
- Wheat germ oil - used as a food supplement, and for its "grainy" flavor. Also used medicinally. Highly unstable.
- Chalk - color (white), anticaking agent, stabiliser
- Chervil (Anthriscus cerefolium) -
- Chicory -
- Chile pepper -
- Chili powder -
- Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) -
- Chlorine dioxide - flour treatment agent
- Chlorine - flour treatment agent
- Chlorophylls and Chlorophyllins - color (green)
- Chocolate Brown HT - color
- Choline salts and esters - emulsifier
- Chrysoine resorcinol - color (red)
- Cicely (Myrrhis odorata)
- Sweet cicely (Myrrhis odorata)
- Cilantro (see Coriander) (Coriandrum sativum)
- Cinnamon -
- Cinnamon oil - used for flavoring.
- Citranaxanthin - color
- Citric acid - food acid
- Citric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids - emulsifier
- Citrus red 2 - color (red)
- Cloves -
- Cochineal - color (red)
- Coconut oil - a cooking oil, high in saturated fat - particularly used in baking and cosmetics.
- Sage (Salvia officinalis) -
- Copper complexes of chlorophylls - color (green)
- Coriander -
- Coriander seed oil - used medicinally. Also used as a flavoring agent in pharmaceutical and food industries.
- Corn oil - one of the most common, and inexpensive cooking oils.
- Corn syrup -
- Cottonseed oil - a major food oil, often used in industrial food processing.
- Cress -
- carmines - color (red)
- Crocetin - color
- Crocin - color
- Crosslinked Sodium carboxymethylcellulose - emulsifier
- Cryptoxanthin - color
- Cumin -
- Cumin oil/Black seed oil - used as a flavor, particularly in meat products. Also used in veterinary medicine.
- Cupric sulfate - mineral salt
- Curcumin - color (yellow and orange)
- Curry powder -
- Curry leaf (Murraya koenigii) -
- Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12) -
- Cyclamates - artificial sweetener
- Cyclamic acid - artificial sweetener
- beta-cyclodextrin - emulsifier
- Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus, C. flexuosus, and other species) -

# D
- Damiana (Turnera aphrodisiaca, T. diffusa) -
- Dandelion leaf -
- Dandelion root -
- Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) -
- Decanal dimethyl acetal -
- Decanal -
- Decanoic acid -
- Dehydroacetic acid - preservative
- Delta-tocopherol(synthetic) - antioxidant
- Devil's claw (Harpagophytum procumbens) medicinal
- Dextrin roasted starch - thickener, vegetable gum
- Diacetyltartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids - emulsifier
- Dicalcium diphosphate - anti-caking agent
- Dilauryl thiodipropionate - antioxidant
- Dill seed -
- Dill (Anethum graveolens) -
- Dimethyl dicarbonate - preservative
- Dimethylpolysiloxane - emulsifier, anti-caking agent
- Dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate - emulsifier
- Diphenyl - preservative
- Diphosphates - mineral salt, emulsifier
- Dipotassium guanylate - flavor enhancer
- Dipotassium inosinate - flavor enhancer
- Disodium 5'-ribonucleotides - flavor enhancer
- Disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate - antioxidant, preservative
- Disodium guanylate - flavor enhancer
- Disodium inosinate - flavor enhancer
- Distarch phosphate - thickener, vegetable gum
- Distearyl thiodipropionate - antioxidant
- Dl-alpha-tocopherol (synthetic) - antioxidant
- Dodecyl gallate - antioxidant

# E
- Echinacea -
- EDTA -
- Egg -
- Egg yolk -
- Eggwhite -
- Elderberry -
- Eleutherococcus senticosus -
- Enzymatically hydrolyzed Carboxymethyl cellulose - emulsifier
- Enzyme treated starch - thickener, vegetable gum
- Epazote (Chenopodium ambrosioides)
- Epsom salts - mineral salt, acidity regulator, firming agent
- Erythorbin acid - antioxidant
- Erythrosine - color (red) (FDA: FD&C Red #3)
- Erythritol - artificial sweetener
- Ethanol (alcohol) -
- Ethyl maltol - flavor enhancer
- Ethyl methyl cellulose - thickener, vegetable gum, emulsifier
- Ethylparaben (ethyl para-hydroxybenzoate) - preservative
- Ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid -
- Evening primrose oil - used as a food supplement for its purported medicinal properties.

# F
- Fantesk -
- Farnesol -
- Fast green FCF - color (FDA: FD&C Green #3)
- Fat -
- Favoxanthin - color
- Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)
- Fenugreek -
- Ferric ammonium citrate - food acid
- Ferrous gluconate - color retention agent
- Ferrous lactate -
- File powder -
- Five-spice powder (Chinese) -
- Fo-ti-tieng -
- Formaldehyde - preservative
- Formic acid - preservative
- Fructose -
- Fumaric acid - acidity regulator

# G
- Galangal -
- Galangal root -
- Galbanum oil -
- Gallic acid -
- Gamma-tocopherol(synthetic) - antioxidant
- Garam masala -
- Garlic extract -
- Garlic -
- Garlic oil -
- Gelatin -
- gelatine (not classified as an additive) - Gelling agent, emulsifier
- Gellan gum - thickener, vegetable gum, stabilizer, emulsifier
- Ginger -
- Ginger oil -
- Ginger root -
- Ginseng -
- Glacial Acetic acid - preservative, acidity regulator
- Glucitol -
- Gluconate -
- Glucono-delta-lactone - acidity regulator
- Glucose oxidase - antioxidant
- Glucose syrup - sweetener
- Glutamate -
- Glutamic acid - flavor enhancer
- Gluten -
- Glycerin - humectant, sweetener
- Glycerol -
- Glycerol esters of wood rosin - emulsifier
- Glyceryl distearate - emulsifier
- Glyceryl monostearate - emulsifier
- Glycine - flavor enhancer
- Glyoxylic acid -
- Gold - color (gold)
- Grains of paradise -
- Grape color extract -
- Grape seed oil - suitable for cooking at high temperatures. Also used as a salad oil, and in cosmetics.
- Green S - color (green)
- Green tea -
- Guanylic acid - flavor enhancer
- Guar gum - thickener, vegetable gum, stabilizer
- Guaranine -
- Gum acacia - thickener, vegetable gum, stabilizer, emulsifier
- Gum arabic - thickener, vegetable gum, stabilizer, emulsifier
- Gum guaicum - preservative

# H
- Haw bark -
- Hazelnut oil - used for its flavor. Also used in skin care, because of its slight astringent nature.
- Heliotropin -
- Helium - propellant
- Hemlock oil -
- Hemp oil - a high quality food oil.
- Heptyl p-hydroxybenzoate - preservative
- Hesperidin -
- Hexamine (hexamethylene tetramine) - preservative
- Hexyl acetate -
- High fructose corn syrup -
- Horseradish -
- Hydrochloric acid - acidity regulator
- Hydroxypropyl cellulose - thickener, vegetable gum, emulsifier
- Hydroxypropyl distarch phosphate - thickener, vegetable gum
- Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose - thickener, vegetable gum, emulsifier
- Hydroxypropyl starch - thickener, vegetable gum
- Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis) -

# I
- Indanthrene blue RS - color (blue)
- Indigo carmine - color (blue) (FDA: FD&C Blue #2)
- Indigotine - color (blue) (FDA: FD&C Blue #2)
- Indole -
- Inosinate -
- Inosinic acid - flavor enhancer
- Inositol -
- Insoluble fiber -
- Intense sweeteners -
- Invert sugar -
- Invertase -
- Iron ammonium citrate -
- Iron -
- Iron oxides and hydroxides - color
- Isobutane - propellant
- Isomalt - humectant
- Isopropyl citrates - antioxidant, preservative

# J
- Jasmine -
- Jamaican jerk spice -
- Jasmine absolute -
- Jiaogulan (Gynostemma pentaphyllum) -
- Juniper -
- Juniper berry -
- Juniper berry oil - used as a flavor. Also used medicinally, including traditional medicine.
- Juniper extract -

# K
- Kaffir Lime Leaves (Citrus hystrix, C. papedia) -
- Kaolin - anti-caking agent
- Kapok seed oil - used as an edible oil, and in soap production.
- Karaya gum - thickener, vegetable gum, stabilizer, emulsifier
- Kelp -
- Kokam -
- Kola nut extract -
- Konjac - thickener, vegetable gum
- Konjac glucomannate - thickener, vegetable gum
- Konjac gum - thickener, vegetable gum

# L
- L-cysteine - flour treatment agent
- Lactic acid - acidity regulator, preservative, antioxidant
- Lactic acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids - emulsifier
- Lactitol - humectant
- Lactose -
- Lactylated fatty acid esters of glycerol and propylene glycol - emulsifier
- Larch gum -
- Lard -
- Latolrubine - color
- Laurel berry -
- Laurel leaf oil -
- Lavender (Lavandula spp.)
- Lavender oil -
- Lecithins - antioxidant, Emulsifier
- Lecithin citrate - preservative
- Legume -
- Lemon -
- Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) -
- Lemon extract -
- Lemon juice -
- Lemon Myrtle (Backhousia citriodora) -
- Lemon oil -
- Lemon verbena (Lippia citriodora) -
- Lemongrass oil -
- Leucine - flavor enhancer
- Licorice -
- Lipases - flavor enhancer
- Lithol Rubine BK - color
- Litholrubine - color
- Locust bean gum - thickener, vegetable gum, stabilizer, gelling agent, emulsifier
- Long pepper -
- Lovage (Levisticum officinale) -
- L(+)-Tartaric acid - food acid
- Lutein - color
- Lycopene - color
- Lysine -
- Lysozyme - preservative

# M
- Macadamia oil - used as an edible oil. Also used as a massage oil.
- Mace -
- Magnesium -
- Magnesium carbonate - anti-caking agent, mineral salt
- Magnesium chloride - mineral salt
- Magnesium citrate - acidity regulator
- Magnesium diglutamate - flavor enhancer
- Magnesium hydroxide - mineral salt
- Magnesium lactate - food acid
- Magnesium oxide - anti-caking agent
- Magnesium phosphates - mineral salt, anti-caking agent
- Magnesium salts of fatty acids - emulsifier, stabiliser, anti-caking agent
- Magnesium silicate - anti-caking agent
- Magnesium stearate - emulsifier, stabiliser
- Magnesium sulfate - mineral salt, acidity regulator, firming agent
- Mahlab -
- Malabathrum -
- Malic acid - acidity regulator
- Malt extract -
- Maltitol - humectant, stabiliser
- Maltodextrin - carbohydrate sweetener
- Maltol - flavor enhancer
- Maltose -
- Mandarin oil
- Manganese -
- Mannitol - humectant, anti-caking agent, sweetener
- Margarine -
- Marjoram (Origanum majorana)
- Mastic -
- Meadowfoam seed oil - highly stable oil, with over 98% long-chain fatty acids. Competes with rapeseed oil for industrial applications. 
- Mentha arvensis oil/Mint oil, used in flavoring toothpastes, mouthwashes and pharmaceuticals, as well as in aromatherapy and other medicinal applications. 
- Metatartaric acid - food acid, emulsifier
- Methionine -
- Methyl butyrate -
- Methyl disulfide -
- Methyl ethyl cellulose - thickener, vegetable gum, emulsifier
- Methyl hexenoate -
- Methyl isobutyrate -
- Methylcellulose - thickener, emulsifier, vegetable gum
- Methylparaben (methyl para-hydroxybenzoate) - preservative
- Methyltheobromine -
- Microcrystalline cellulose - anti-caking agent
- Milk thistle (Silybum) -
- Milk -
- Mint (Mentha spp.) -
- Mixed acetic and tartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids - emulsifier
- Modified starch -
- Molasses extract -
- Molybdenum -
- Bergamot (Monarda didyma) -
- Mono- and diglycerides of Fatty acids - emulsifier
- Monoammonium glutamate - flavor enhancer
- Monopotassium glutamate - flavor enhancer
- Monosodium glutamate (MSG) - flavor enhancer
- Monostarch phosphate - thickener, vegetable gum
- Montanic acid esters - humectant
- Mullien (Verbascum thapsus)
- Mustard -
- Mustard oil (essential oil), containing a high percentage of allyl isothiocyanate or other isothiocyanates, depending on the species of mustard
- Mustard oil (pressed) - used in India as a cooking oil. Also used as a massage oil.
- Mustard plant -
- Mustard seed -

# N
- Natamycin - preservative
- Neohesperidin dihydrochalcone - artificial sweetener
- Niacin (vitamin B3) - color retention agent
nicotinic acid (vitamin B3) - color retention agent
Nicotinamide (vitamin B3) - color retention agent
- nicotinic acid (vitamin B3) - color retention agent
- Nicotinamide (vitamin B3) - color retention agent
- Nigella (Kolanji, Black caraway) -
- Nisin - preservative
- Nitrogen - propellant
- Nitrous oxide - propellant
- Norbixin - color
- Nutmeg -

# O
- Octyl gallate - antioxidant
- Evening primrose (Oenothera biennis et al) -
- Okra oil (Hibiscus seed oil) - from the seed of the Hibiscus esculentus. Composed predominantly of oleic and lanoleic acids. 
- Oleomargarine -
- Olive oil - used in cooking - cosmetics - soaps and as a fuel for traditional oil lamps
- Orange GGN - color (orange)
- Orange oil - like lemon oil - cold pressed rather than distilled. Consists of 90% d-Limonene. Used as a fragrance, in cleaning products and in flavoring foods. 
- Orcein - color (red)
- Orchil - color (red)
- Oregano (Origanum vulgare, O. heracleoticum, and other species) -
- Oregano oil - contains thymol and carvacrol - making it a useful fungicide. Also used to treat digestive problems. 
- Orris root -
- Orthophenyl phenol - preservative
- Oxidised polyethylene wax - humectant
- Oxidised starch - thickener, vegetable gum
- Oxystearin - antioxidant, sequestrant

# P
- Palm oil - the most widely produced tropical oil. Also used to make biofuel.
- Panax ginseng -
- Panax quinquefolia -
- Ponch phoran -
- Pandan leaf -
- Pantothenic acid (Vitamin B5) -
- Paprika -
- Paprika extract -
- Paraffins - glazing agent
- Parsley (Petroselinum crispum) -
- Patent blue V - color (blue)
- Peanut oil/Ground nut oil - mild-flavored cooking oil.
- Pecan oil - valued as a food oil, but requiring fresh pecans for good quality oil. 
- Pectin - vegetable gum, emulsifier
- Perilla seed oil - high in omega-3 fatty acids. Used as an edible oil, for medicinal purposes, in skin care products and as a drying oil.
- Phosphated distarch phosphate - thickener, vegetable gum
- Phosphoric acid - food acid
- Phytic acid - preservative
- Pigment Rubine - color
- Pimaricin - preservative
- Pine needle oil
- Pine seed oil - an expensive food oil, used in salads and as a condiment. 
- Pistachio oil - strongly flavored oil, particularly for use in salads. 
- Prune kernel oil - marketed as a gourmet cooking oil 
- Poly vinyl pyrrolidone -
- Polydextrose - humectant
- Polyethylene glycol 8000 - antifoaming agent
- Polyglycerol esters of fatty acids - emulsifier
- Polyglycerol polyricinoleate - emulsifier
- Polymethylsiloxane - antifoaming agent
- Polyoxyethylene (40) stearate - emulsifier
- Polyoxyethylene (8) stearate - emulsifier, stabilizer
- Polyphosphates - mineral salt, emulsifier
- Polysorbate 20 - emulsifier
- Polysorbate 40 - emulsifier
- Polysorbate 60 - emulsifier
- Polysorbate 65 - emulsifier
- Polysorbate 80 - emulsifier
- Polyvinylpolypyrrolidone - color stabiliser
- Pomegranate seeds (though some consider these a fruit, not a spice)
- Ponceau 4R - color (FDA: Ext D&C Red #8)
- Ponceau 6R - color
- Ponceau SX - color
- Poppy seed -
- Poppyseed oil - used for cooking, moisturizing skin, and in paints, varnishes and soaps.
- Potassium acetates - preservative, acidity regulator
- Potassium adipate - food acid
- Potassium alginate - thickener, vegetable gum, stabilizer, gelling agent, emulsifier
- Potassium aluminium silicate - anti-caking agent
- Potassium ascorbate - antioxidant (water soluble)
- Potassium benzoate - preservative
- Potassium bicarbonate - mineral salt
- Potassium bisulfite - preservative, antioxidant
- Potassium bromate - flour treatment agent
- Potassium carbonate - mineral salt
- Potassium chloride - mineral salt
- Potassium citrates - food acid
- Potassium ferrocyanide - anti-caking agent
- Potassium fumarate - food acid
- Potassium gluconate - stabiliser
- Potassium hydrogen sulfite - preservative, antioxidant
- Potassium hydroxide - mineral salt
- Potassium lactate - food acid
- Potassium malate - food acid
- Potassium metabisulfite - preservative, antioxidant
- Potassium nitrate - preservative, color fixative
- Potassium nitrite - preservative, color fixative
- Potassium phosphates - mineral salt
- Potassium propionate - preservative
- Potassium salts of fatty acids - emulsifier, stabiliser, anti-caking agent
- Potassium sodium tartrate - food acid
- Potassium sorbate - preservative
- Potassium sulfate - mineral salt, seasoning
- Potassium sulfite - preservative, antioxidant
- Potassium tartrates - food acid
- Powdered Cellulose - anti-caking agent
- Primrose (Primula)  candied flowers, tea
- Processed Eucheuma seaweed - thickener, vegetable gum, stabilizer, gelling agent, emulsifier
- Propane-1,2-diol alginate - thickener, vegetable gum, stabilizer, emulsifier
- Propionic acid - preservative
- Propyl gallate - antioxidant
- Propylene glycol - humectant
- Propylene glycol alginate - thickener, vegetable gum, stabilizer, emulsifier
- Propylene glycol esters of fatty acids - emulsifier
- Propylparaben (propyl para-hydroxybenzoate) - preservative
- Pumpkin seed oil - a specialty cooking oil, produced in Austria and Slovenia. Doesn't tolerate high temperatures.
- Purslane -
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6) -

# Q
- Quatre epices -
- Quillaia extract - humectant
- Quinoa oil - similar in composition and use to corn oil. 
- Quinoline yellow - color (yellow and orange) (FDA: D&C Yellow #10)

# R
- Ramtil oil - pressed from the seeds of the one of several species of genus Guizotia abyssinica (Niger pea) in India and Ethiopia. Used for both cooking and lighting.
- Ras-el hanout
- Raspberry (leaves)
- Red 2G - color
- Refined microcrystalline wax - glazing agent
- Rhodoxanthin - color
- Riboflavin (vitamin B2) - color (yellow and orange)
- Rice bran oil - suitable for high temperature cooking. Widely used in Asia.
- Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) -
- Rubixanthin - color

# S
- Saccharin - artificial sweetener
- Safflower oil - a flavorless and colorless cooking oil.
- Safflower -
- Saffron - color
- Saigon Cinnamon -
- Salad Burnet (Sanguisorba minor or Poterium sanguisorba)
- Salt -
- Sandalwood - color
- Savory (Satureja hortensis, S. montana)
- Scarlet GN - color
- Sesame oil - used as a cooking oil, and as a massage oil, particularly in India.
- Sesame seed -
- Shellac - glazing agent
- Silicon dioxide - anti-caking agent
- Silver - color (silver)
- Luohanguo
- Sodium acetate - preservative, acidity regulator
- Sodium adipate - food acid
- Sodium alginate - thickener, vegetable gum, stabilizer, gelling agent, emulsifier
- Sodium aluminium phosphate - acidity regulator, emulsifier
- Sodium aluminosilicate (sodium aluminium silicate) - anti-caking agent
- Sodium ascorbate - antioxidant (water soluble)
- Sodium benzoate - preservative
- Sodium bicarbonate - mineral salt
- Sodium bisulfite (sodium hydrogen sulfite) - preservative, antioxidant
- Sodium carbonate - mineral salt
- Sodium carboxymethylcellulose - emulsifier
- Sodium citrates - food acid
- Sodium dehydroacetate - preservative
- Sodium erythorbate - antioxidant
- Sodium erythorbin - antioxidant
- Sodium ethyl para-hydroxybenzoate - preservative
- Sodium ferrocyanide - anti-caking agent
- Sodium formate - preservative
- Sodium fumarate - food acid
- Sodium gluconate - stabiliser
- Sodium hydrogen acetate - preservative, acidity regulator
- Sodium hydroxide - mineral salt
- Sodium lactate - food acid
- Sodium malates - food acid
- Sodium metabisulfite - preservative, antioxidant, bleaching agent
- Sodium methyl para-hydroxybenzoate - preservative
- Sodium nitrate - preservative, color fixative
- Sodium nitrite - preservative, color fixative
- Sodium orthophenyl phenol - preservative
- Sodium propionate - preservative
- Sodium propyl para-hydroxybenzoate - preservative
- Sodium sorbate - preservative
- Sodium stearoyl lactylate - emulsifier
- Sodium succinates - acidity regulator, flavor enhancer
- Sodium salts of fatty acids - emulsifier, stabiliser, anti-caking agent
- Sodium sulfite - mineral salt, preservative, antioxidant
- Sodium sulfite - preservative, antioxidant
- Sodium tartrates - food acid
- Sodium tetraborate - preservative
- Sorbic acid - preservative
- Sorbitan monolaurate - emulsifier
- Sorbitan monooleate - emulsifier
- Sorbitan monopalmitate - emulsifier
- Sorbitan monostearate - emulsifier
- Sorbitan tristearate - emulsifier
- Sorbitol - humectant, emulsifier, sweetener
- Sorbol -
- Sorrel (Rumex spp.) -
- Soybean oil - accounts for about half of worldwide edible oil production.
- Spearmint oil - often used in flavoring mouthwash and chewing gum, among other applications. 
- Star anise -
- Star anise oil - highly fragrant oil using in cooking. Also used in perfumery and soaps, has been used in toothpastes, mouthwashes, and skin creams.  90% of the world's star anise crop is used in the manufacture of Tamiflu, a drug used to treat avian flu.
- Starch sodium octenylsuccinate - thickener, vegetable gum
- Stearic acid - anti-caking agent
- Stearyl tartarate - emulsifier
- Succinic acid - food acid
- Sucralose - artificial sweetener
- Sucroglycerides - emulsifier
- Sucrose acetate isobutyrate - emulsifier, stabiliser
- Sucrose esters of fatty acids - emulsifier
- Sugar -
- Sulfur dioxide - preservative, antioxidant
- Sulfuric acid - acidity regulator
- Sumac -
- Sunflower oil - a common cooking oil, also used to make biodiesel.
- Sunset Yellow FCF - color (yellow and orange) (FDA: FD&C Yellow #6)
- Sweet basil -
- Sweet woodruff -
- Szechuan pepper (Xanthoxylum piperitum) -

# T
- Talc - anti-caking agent
- Tamarind -
- Costmary -
- Tandoori masala -
- Tannins - color, emulsifier, stabiliser, thickener
- Tansy -
- Tara gum - thickener, vegetable gum, stabilizer
- Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus) -
- Tartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids - emulsifier
- Tartrazine - color (yellow and orange) (FDA: FD&C Yellow #5)
- Camellia oil/Tea oil, widely used in southern China as a cooking oil. Also used in making soaps, hair oils and a variety of other products.
- Tert-butylhydroquinone - antioxidant
- Thaumatin - flavor enhancer, artificial sweetener
- Theine -
- Thermally oxidised soya bean oil - emulsifier
- Thiabendazole - preservative
- Thiamine (Vitamin B1) -
- Thiodipropionic acid - antioxidant
- Thyme -
- stannous chloride - color retention agent, antioxidant
- Titanium dioxide - color (white)
- Tocopherol (Vitamin E) -
- Tocopherol concentrate (natural) - antioxidant
- Tragacanth - thickener, vegetable gum, stabilizer, emulsifier
- Triacetin - humectant
- Triammonium citrate - food acid
- Triethyl citrate - thickener, vegetable gum
- Trimethylxanthine -
- Triphosphates - mineral salt, emulsifier
- sodium phosphates - Mineral Salt
- Turmeric - color (yellow and orange)

# V
- Vanilla (Vanilla planifolia) -
- Vegetable carbon - color (brown and black)
- Vinegar -
- Violaxanthin - color
- Vitamin -
Vitamin A (Retinol) -
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) -
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) -
Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid) -
Vitamin B6 (Pyrodoxine) -
Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamin) -
Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid) -
Vitamin D (Calciferol) -
Vitamin E {Tocopherol) -
Vitamin K -
- Vitamin A (Retinol) -
- Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) -
- Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) -
- Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid) -
- Vitamin B6 (Pyrodoxine) -
- Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamin) -
- Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid) -
- Vitamin D (Calciferol) -
- Vitamin E {Tocopherol) -
- Vitamin K -

# W
- Walnut oil - used for its flavor, also used by Renaissance painters in oil paints
- Wasabi -
- Water -
- Wattleseed -

# X
- Xanthan gum - thickener, vegetable gum, stabilizer
- Xylitol - humectant, stabiliser

# Y
- Yellow 2G - color (yellow and orange)
- Yucca extract -

# Z
- Za'atar -
- Zeaxanthin - color
- Zinc acetate - flavor enhancer