E-Number Decoder · Free reference tool

Decode the E-numbers on your label, the way a pharmacist reads them.

A working reference to the 81 additives that show up most often on UK labels. What the regulator says, what the evidence shows, where they disagree, and the halal status of each. No fear-mongering, no sugar-coating.

Treat every E-number as poison See what the evidence actually says
Free reference81 additivesHalal status flaggedPharmacist-built
What this is for

See past the E-number panic

An E-number is just a code for an approved additive, yet the internet treats the whole list as a threat. This tool gives you the grounded version: for each of the 81 most common UK additives, what it is, what the regulator has concluded, what the peer-reviewed evidence shows, and whether the two agree. Halal status is surfaced on every entry, and the additives worth a second look, the Southampton Six, paediatric flags and contested cases, are clearly marked.

How it works

Three simple steps

1
Search or filter
Look up an additive by E-number, name or food category, or filter by type.
2
Read the grounded entry
See the regulator position, the evidence, and where the two diverge.
3
Check what matters to you
Halal status, paediatric flags and contested cases are marked on each.
What you walk away with

What you take away

  • A plain-English entry for each of the 81 most common UK additives
  • The regulator position and the evidence side by side
  • Halal status surfaced on every additive
  • Clear flags for the Southampton Six and contested cases
Open the decoder

Everyone is different. This is a reference, not personal medical advice.

Best for anyone who wants to read an ingredients list with clear eyes, halal status included.

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Your next step

You have the picture. Here is what to do with it.

Keep going, free Additives Worth Knowing About See which everyday additives are worth your attention. Open Additives Worth Knowing About →
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