Sweeteners
Is aspartame (E951) safe? Reading IARC and EFSA together
In 2023 IARC placed aspartame in the "possibly carcinogenic" group while JECFA left the daily intake limit unchanged. How can both decisions be right at once?
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What is behind the label.
Clear explanations of ingredients, additives and shopping with more information.
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Flavour enhancers
What is monosodium glutamate (E621)? EFSA's 2017 limit
MSG is a flavour enhancer that gives umami taste. In 2017 EFSA set a numerical intake limit for the first time and noted that some groups could exceed it.
ADI
What is an ADI? Understanding the "safe intake" figure for additives
The acceptable daily intake (ADI) is a number that appears often in additive news but is often misread. How is it set, what happens if it is exceeded, and why is comparing substances by it misleading?
Preservatives
Nitrites and nitrates: why is E250 in processed meat debated?
E250 and E251 on the label of sausages and ham are both preservatives and a topic of debate. Reading EFSA's and IARC's assessments together makes the picture clearer.
Colours
Why was titanium dioxide (E171) banned in the EU?
E171, the additive that makes sweets bright white, can no longer be used in food in the EU after EFSA's 2021 assessment. Here is what the decision rested on and what to look for on labels.
Preservatives
What does "contains sulphites" mean? A guide to E220-E228
"Contains sulphites" on dried fruit, wine and pickles is an allergen warning. Which codes are sulphites, what does EFSA say, and how do you read the label?
Antioxidants
What are BHA and BHT? Understanding E320 and E321 on labels
BHA (E320) and BHT (E321) are synthetic antioxidants that delay fats going rancid. The IARC classification and EFSA's intake limits only make sense when read together.
Colours
What the "activity and attention" warning on food colours means
Some labels say a colour "may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children." Here is where that warning came from, what EFSA made of it, and how to read it.
Preservatives
Sorbates vs benzoates: two common preservatives explained
Sorbic acid (E200) and sodium benzoate (E211) both hold back mould and yeast. EFSA's intake limits and the benzene question show what to know when reading a label.
Sugar
Sugar by other names on food labels
A label may not say "sugar" and still list sugar sources. Learn to recognise glucose syrup, dextrose, molasses, fruit juice concentrate and more.
Allergens
What does "may contain" mean on food labels?
A "may contain" warning is not the same as an allergen in the ingredient list. Here is the difference and what people with allergies should check.
Hidden Chemistry on the Plate: Food Additives and Our Health
What Do E-Codes Mean?