The Quick Answer E631 is disodium inosinate—a flavor enhancer derived from inosinic acid (inosine 5'-monophosphate or IMP), a naturally occurring nucleotide found in meat and fish. It's primarily used in…

The Quick Answer E440 is pectin—a naturally occurring soluble dietary fiber found in the cell walls of fruits and vegetables, most abundantly in apples and citrus fruits. Commercially extracted from…

The Quick Answer E415 is xanthan gum—a high-molecular-weight polysaccharide produced through fermentation of a carbohydrate (glucose or sucrose) with the bacterium Xanthomonas campestris. It's used as a thickener, stabilizer, and…

The Quick Answer E413 is tragacanth gum—also known as "gum dragon"—a natural thickener and stabilizer extracted from the sap of Astragalus shrubs native to the Middle East (primarily Iran, Iraq,…

What is E102? Complete guide to understanding E102 (Tartrazine) in your food The Quick Answer E102 is a synthetic yellow azo dye used to color foods bright yellow. It's used…