Original: In casual language in the UK and Ireland , '' E number '' is used as a pejorative term for artificial food additives , and products may promote themselves as '' free of E numbers '' even though most of the natural ingredients contain components that also have an E number such as vitamin C ( E300 ) or lycopene ( E160d ) .
Simplified: In casual language in the UK and Ireland , the term '' E-number '' is used as a pejorative term for artificial food additives , and products may promote themselves as '' free of E-numbers '' even though some of the ingredients ( e.g. bicarbonate of soda ) do have such a code .