Kids' snacks without E numbers: 47 healthy ideas

Know the enemy

Finding food that's completely free of additives is not an easy task. Most prepared food in the supermarket has at least one additive -- for example, many jams have added pectin to help give them texture. And some additives are more nefarious than others: pectin, acetic acid, ascorbic acid, lecithin and others are considered 'lesser evils,' says Giovanelli, because they occur in nature and don't require complex processes to extract them and add them to foods. However, the methods used to obtain even 'natural' additives can be questionable; some 'natural' additives may be synthetic, come from animal sources or even GM (genetically modified) sources. Your best bet is to aim to avoid them all.

There are thousands of known food additives, but only 311 currently approved for use in food across the EU, according to the Food Additives and Ingredients Association. These include colourings, flavourings, preservatives and sweeteners, plus thickeners, acidity regulators, antioxidants and emulsifiers.

Below are some common one to watch for, with their common name. Manufacturers can put either the E-number or the additive name on labels. (For a comprehensive list of E-numbers, go to http://www.faia.org.uk/enumbers.php):

E160b - Annatto
E1400 - Dextrin
E967 - Xylitol
E950 - Acesulfame K
E951 - Aspartame
E954 - Saccharin
E420 - Sorbitol
E415 - Xanthan gum
E330 - Citric acid
E407 - Carrageenan
E410 - Locust bean gum
E322 - Lecithin
E202 - Potassium sorbate
E220 - Sulphur dioxide
E250 - Sodium nitrite
E260 - Acetic acid
E300 - Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C)
E440 - Pectin