frc - Food Reality Check

What is E434? – Complete guide to understanding Polysorbate 40 in your food

What is E434? Complete guide to understanding E434 (Polysorbate 40) in your food The Quick Answer E434 is polysorbate 40 (also called polyoxyethylene sorbitan monopalmitate or Tween 40), a synthetic…

E-Numbers & Additives

What is E560? – Complete guide

What is E560? Complete guide to understanding E560 — the most critical discovery: E560 is NOT a food additive, it's a feed additive. Not approved for human food in the…

E-Numbers & Additives

What is E559? – Complete guide to understanding Aluminum Silicate/Kaolin

What is E559? Complete guide to understanding E559 (Aluminum Silicate/Kaolin) — the ONLY successfully BANNED food additive in this research collection, removed from EU in 2014 ✅ SUCCESSFUL REGULATORY BAN…

E-Numbers & Additives

What is E433? – Complete guide to understanding Polysorbate 80 in your food

What is E433? Complete guide to understanding E433 (Polysorbate 80) in your food The Quick Answer E433 is polysorbate 80 (also called polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate or Tween 80), a widely-used…

E-Numbers & Additives

What is E432? – Complete guide to understanding Polysorbate 20 in your food

What is E432? Complete guide to understanding E432 (Polysorbate 20) in your food The Quick Answer E432 is polysorbate 20 (also called polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate or Tween 20), a synthetic…

E-Numbers & Additives

What is E431? – Complete guide to understanding Polyoxyethylene Stearate in your food

What is E431? Complete guide to understanding E431 (Polyoxyethylene Stearate) in your food The Quick Answer E431 is polyoxyethylene (40) stearate, a synthetic non-ionic emulsifier combining polyethylene glycol with stearic…

E-Numbers & Additives

What is E407 (Carrageenan)? – Complete Guide with Health Warnings

The Quick Answer E407 is carrageenan—a thickening and gelling agent extracted from red seaweed (Irish Moss). It's used in thousands of processed foods to create smooth, stable textures. While FDA…

E-Numbers & Additives

What is E406 (Agar Agar)? – Complete Guide to Natural Gelling Agent

The Quick Answer E406 is agar agar—a natural gelling agent and thickener extracted from red seaweed (specifically Gelidium and Gracilaria species). Unlike gelatin, which comes from animal bones and skin,…

E-Numbers & Additives

What is E500? – Complete Guide to Sodium Carbonate & Baking Soda

The Quick Answer E500 is a family of sodium compounds that function as leavening agents, acidity regulators, and stabilizers in food. The most common form you've heard of is sodium…

E-Numbers & Additives

What is E450 Polyphosphates? – Complete Guide to Diphosphates

The Quick Answer E450 is a group of polyphosphates—also called diphosphates—that function as emulsifiers, stabilizers, and leavening agents in food. Common types include sodium acid pyrophosphate (SAPP), disodium diphosphate, tetrapotassium…