What does the E number on a food label mean?

Answer

Food additives permitted for use in foods are numbered under an international system so that a common standard can be applied, and the letter E at the start of the number is the first letter of "Europe". An E number means that the risk assessment work for that substance has been completed and that the official authority has permitted its use in foods. In Türkiye, as in European Union countries, the label must state either the name or the E number of every additive used, together with its function. Which additive may be used in which food and at what maximum level is set out in the Turkish Food Codex Regulation on Food Additives, which is aligned with European Union legislation. An E number describes a regulatory permission; whether an additive is suitable from a halal point of view depends on the source it is obtained from and has to be assessed separately.