E number

{{foodnav}}{{hatnote|Not to be confused with the mathematical constant {{wpl|Euler's number|''e''|.}}}}
[[File:Froot-Loops-Cereal-Bowl.jpg|thumb|Froot loops breakfast cereal]]
'''E numbers''' are the codes for designated food additives which have been assessed for consumption by the [[European Union]] - the '''E''' stands for 
evil
 European. Some people think that all foods should be produced without E numbers<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/jan/31/health.foodanddrink1 E-numbers should be banned in food and drink, say MPs]</ref><ref>[http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=64262439526 Facebook campaign to Ban E Numbers in Children's Food]</ref> as [[Chemophobia|they are all toxic food additives]] which may either cause [[cancer]] or make children [[ADHD|hyper-active]] and unruly.<ref>[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/columnists/article-480674/E-numbers-banned-A-trenchant-attack-food-industry.html ''Daily Mail'' - E numbers should be banned: A trenchant attack on the food industry (08 September 2007)]</ref> Some "health" products proclaim themselves as "free of E numbers." 

This is, of course, mostly [[bollocks]]. The entire point of "E numbers" is twofold; firstly a number recognises that the additive has been tested and is safe, and secondly the number is designed to cut down on excessive [[chemistry|chemical]] jargon on food labels, standardising such ingredients across the many languages in Europe which don't always use the same chemical nomenclature. Thanks to prejudices formed against E numbers, many food companies have decided to switch back to full chemical names for their ingredients. So while your food may contain [[Vitamin C|"ascorbic acid"]], at least it doesn't contain any of that nasty E300 shit!

Some compounds with assigned E numbers have been removed from use after new evidence indicated that they may be potentially harmful. This was the case for several dyes derived from coal tar after weak evidence was found that they may be associated with hyperactivity in children: E102 (tartrazine), E104 (quinoline yellow), E110 (sunset yellow FCF), E122 (carmoisine), E124 (ponceau 4R), E129 (allura red).<ref>[https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/food-colours-and-hyperactivity/ Food colours and hyperactivity], NHS, UK, reviewed 12 April 2017</ref> The truth may be that these dyes were typically added to foods high in sugar, and hyperactivity has many causes.

Ironically, some E numbers have no application in food production. This includes E939 (Helium). Others, such as E941 (Nitrogen) are used in food packaging.<ref name=saltmarsh>[https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=V4p77KU8BE0C&lpg=PA245&ots=ZtwWYBys8W&dq=helium%20as%20food%20additive&pg=PA245#v=onepage&q=helium%20as%20food%20additive&f=false Essential Guide to Food Additives], edited by Michael Saltmarsh, Royal Society of Chemistry, 2013</ref>

==What are they?==

They are grouped into the following categories
:E100–E199 (colors) 
:E200–E299 (preservatives) 
:E300–E399 ([[antioxidants]], acidity regulators) 
:E400–E499 (thickeners, stabilizers, emulsifiers) 
:E500–E599 (acidity regulators, anti-caking agents) 
:E600–E699 (flavor enhancers) 
:E700–E799 (antibiotics) 
:E900–E999 (miscellaneous) 
:E1000–E1999 (additional chemicals)

Some really nasty ones that you probably don't want to have in your food:
:E101 - Riboflavin (Vitamin B<sub>2</sub>) 
:E150a - Plain caramel
:E160c - Paprika extract; capsanthian; capsorubin
:E160d - Lycopene
:E161b - Lutein
:E175 - [[Gold]]
:E290 - Carbon dioxide 
:E300 - Ascorbic acid ([[Vitamin C]])
:E307 - Alpha-tocopherol (Vitamin E)
:E308 - Gamma-tocopherol (Vitamin E)
:E309 - Delta-tocopherol (Vitamin E)
:E322 - Lecithin 
:E330 - Citric acid
:E392 -	Extracts of rosemary
:E410 - Locust bean gum, carob gum
:E460 - Cellulose
:E901 -	Beeswax
:E939 - [[Helium]]
:E941 - Nitrogen
:E948 - [[Oxygen]] (used to make meat look redder)<ref name=saltmarsh/>

==External links==
*[http://www.food.gov.uk/safereating/chemsafe/additivesbranch/enumberlist UK Food Standards Agency - Current EU approved additives and their E Numbers]
*[http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/features/additives-its-time-to-look-on-the-bright-side-1955043.html ''The Independent'' - Additives: it's time to look on the bright side]
*[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-10773893 BBC News - The day I ate as many E numbers as possible]

==Footnote==
{{reflist}}

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[[Category:Food supplement woo]]
[[Category:Numbers]]
[[Category:Toxins]]

Categories: Food supplement woo, Numbers, Toxins