How does an ingredient get an E and a number?
An E number is simply a code given to the 319 food additives that have been assessed for use within the European Union. The European Food Safety Authority has responsibility for ensuring that E numbers are safe for human consumption – they must undergo rigorous testing and safety evaluations before they are approved for use. These assessments are also based on reviews of all available toxicological data – in both human and animal models. Once an E number has been approved, its approval is monitored, reviewed and amended in the light of new scientific data.
It is true that some E numbers can cause some minor problems when you eat too much of it. But to be clear: vitamin C is written as an E number when added to a food product. And even water is unhealthy when ingested in a too large quantity.
