Barcode & E-number guides

Short, factual answers about the codes on your products — the barcode under the bars and the E-numbers in the ingredients list. Look up any barcode on our lookup page.

• Does a barcode show a product's country of origin?
  No — a barcode's leading digits show which national GS1 organization the brand registered with, not where the product was made. Here's what the prefix really means.
• What do the numbers on a barcode mean?
  A standard EAN-13 barcode has 13 digits: a country-organization prefix, a company number, a product number and a final check digit. Here's how to read them.
• UPC vs EAN vs GTIN: what's the difference?
  UPC is the 12-digit North American barcode, EAN is the 13-digit international version, and GTIN is the umbrella term for both. Here's how they relate.
• Can a barcode tell you if a product is genuine?
  Not by itself — a barcode identifies a product type but can be copied onto counterfeits. Here's how to actually check whether a product is authentic.
• What are E numbers?
  E numbers are codes for food additives approved across the EU. The 'E' stands for Europe, and the number's range tells you the additive's job — colours, preservatives, antioxidants and more.
• E100–E199: food colours
  The E100–E199 range covers food colours — additives that add or restore colour in food, from natural-source colours like curcumin (E100) to synthetics like tartrazine (E102).
• E200–E299: preservatives
  The E200–E299 range covers preservatives — additives that protect food from spoilage by microbes. Examples include potassium sorbate (E202) and sodium benzoate (E211).
• E300–E399: antioxidants & acidity regulators
  The E300–E399 range covers antioxidants and acidity regulators — additives that stop food going rancid or control its acidity. E300 is vitamin C; E330 is citric acid.
• E400–E499: thickeners, stabilisers & emulsifiers
  The E400–E499 range covers thickeners, stabilisers, gelling agents and emulsifiers — additives that give food texture and stop ingredients separating. Examples: agar (E406), carrageenan (E407).
• E500–E599: acidity regulators & anti-caking agents
  The E500–E599 range covers acidity regulators and anti-caking agents — additives that control acidity or stop powders clumping. E500 is baking soda; E551 is silicon dioxide.
• E600–E699: flavour enhancers
  The E600–E699 range covers flavour enhancers — additives that intensify a food's existing taste. The best-known is E621 (monosodium glutamate, MSG).
• E900–E999: glazing agents, gases & sweeteners
  The E900–E999 range is a mixed group covering glazing agents, packaging gases and sweeteners — including aspartame (E951) and stevia (E960).

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