Food Additives: US vs EU Safety Comparison
37 featured additives with full US-EU comparison, plus 3,940 additives from the FDA Substances Added to Food inventory.
US-EU Regulatory Divergence (21)
These additives have different regulatory status — approved in one region but banned, restricted, or under review in the other.
Azodicarbonamide (ADA)
Flour treatment agent / Dough conditioner
US
ApprovedEU
BannedBHA (Butylated Hydroxyanisole)
Antioxidant / Preservative
US
GRASEU
ApprovedBHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene)
Antioxidant / Preservative
US
GRASEU
ApprovedCalcium Propionate
Preservative
US
GRASEU
ApprovedCarrageenan
Thickener / Stabilizer
US
GRASEU
ApprovedCitric Acid
Acidity regulator / Preservative
US
GRASEU
ApprovedErythritol
Sugar alcohol / Sweetener
US
GRASEU
ApprovedGreen 3 (Fast Green)
Color additive
US
ApprovedEU
BannedHigh Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS)
Sweetener
US
GRASEU
ApprovedLecithin
Emulsifier
US
GRASEU
ApprovedMono- and Diglycerides
Emulsifier
US
GRASEU
ApprovedMSG (Monosodium Glutamate)
Flavor enhancer
US
GRASEU
ApprovedPartially Hydrogenated Oils (Trans Fats)
Fat / Processing aid
US
BannedEU
RestrictedPotassium Bromate
Flour treatment agent
US
ApprovedEU
BannedPropylparaben
Preservative
US
GRASEU
BannedrBST (Recombinant Bovine Somatotropin)
Growth hormone (dairy)
US
ApprovedEU
BannedRed 3 (Erythrosine)
Color additive
US
BannedEU
ApprovedSodium Benzoate
Preservative
US
GRASEU
ApprovedSorbic Acid and Sorbates
Preservative
US
GRASEU
ApprovedStevia (Steviol Glycosides)
Natural sweetener
US
GRASEU
ApprovedTitanium Dioxide
Color additive
US
ApprovedEU
Banned
Same Status in Both Regions (16)
- Approved
Acesulfame Potassium (Ace-K)
Artificial sweetener
- Approved
Aspartame
Artificial sweetener
- Approved
Blue 1 (Brilliant Blue)
Color additive
- Approved
Blue 2 (Indigo Carmine)
Color additive
- Banned
Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO)
Emulsifier / Stabilizer
- Approved
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifier
- Approved
Red 40 (Allura Red AC)
Color additive
- Approved
Saccharin
Artificial sweetener
- Approved
Sodium Nitrate
Preservative / Color fixative
- Approved
Sodium Nitrite
Preservative / Color fixative
- Approved
Sucralose
Artificial sweetener
- Approved
Sulfur Dioxide and Sulfites
Preservative / Antioxidant
- Approved
TBHQ (Tert-Butylhydroquinone)
Antioxidant / Preservative
- Approved
Xanthan Gum
Thickener / Stabilizer
- Approved
Yellow 5 (Tartrazine)
Color additive
- Approved
Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow)
Color additive
FDA Inventory (3,940)
Additives from the FDA Substances Added to Food inventory. EU comparison not yet available for these entries.
Showing 1,101–1,200 of 3,940
- AMMONIUM PECTINATE
- AMMONIUM PERSULFATE— ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT,<br /> FUMIGANT
- AMMONIUM PHOSPHATE, DIBASIC— FIRMING AGENT,<br /> FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT,<br /> LEAVENING AGENT,<br /> MALTING OR FERMENTING AID,<br /> NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT,<br /> PH CONTROL AGENT
- AMMONIUM PHOSPHATE, MONOBASIC— LEAVENING AGENT,<br /> MALTING OR FERMENTING AID,<br /> PH CONTROL AGENT
- AMMONIUM SULFATE— DOUGH STRENGTHENER,<br /> FIRMING AGENT,<br /> FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT,<br /> FLOUR TREATING AGENT,<br /> LEAVENING AGENT,<br /> MALTING OR FERMENTING AID,<br /> PROCESSING AID
- AMMONIUM SULFIDE— ANTIOXIDANT,<br /> FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- AMMONIUM SULFITE— COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT
- AMYL 2-FUROATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- AMYL ALCOHOL— FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- AMYL BUTYRATE— FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- AMYL DECANOATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- AMYL FORMATE— FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- AMYL HEPTANOATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- AMYL HEXANOATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- AMYL ISOTHIOCYANATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- AMYL METHYL DISULFIDE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- AMYL OCTANOATE— FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- AMYL SALICYLATE
- AMYLASE FROM ASPERGILLUS FLAVUS— ENZYME,<br /> FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT,<br /> LEAVENING AGENT,<br /> PROCESSING AID
- AMYLASE FROM ASPERGILLUS NIGER— ENZYME,<br /> FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT,<br /> LEAVENING AGENT,<br /> PROCESSING AID
- AMYLASE FROM ASPERGILLUS ORYZAE— ENZYME,<br /> FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT,<br /> LEAVENING AGENT,<br /> PROCESSING AID
- AMYLASE FROM BACILLUS SUBTILIS— ENZYME,<br /> FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT,<br /> LEAVENING AGENT,<br /> PROCESSING AID
- AMYLOGLUCOSIDASE FROM RHIZOPUS NIVEUS— ENZYME,<br /> MALTING OR FERMENTING AID,<br /> PROCESSING AID
- AMYRIS (AMYRIS BALSAMIFERA L.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- AMYRIS, OIL (AMYRIS BALSAMIFERA L.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- ANGELICA (ANGELICA SPP.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- ANGELICA ROOT (ANGELICA SPP.)— FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- ANGELICA ROOT, EXTRACT (ANGELICA ARCHANGELICA L.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- ANGELICA ROOT, OIL (ANGELICA ARCHANGELICA L.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- ANGELICA SEED (ANGELICA SPP.)
- ANGELICA SEED, EXTRACT (ANGELICA ARCHANGELICA L.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- ANGELICA SEED, OIL (ANGELICA ARCHANGELICA L.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- ANGELICA STEM, OIL (ANGELICA ARCHANGELICA L.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- ANGOLA WEED (ROCCELLA FUCIFORMIS ACH.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- ANGOSTURA (GALIPEA OFFINCINALIS HANCOCK)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- ANGOSTURA, EXTRACT (GALIPEA OFFICINALIS HANCOCK)— FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- ANISALDEHYDE PROPYLENEGLYCOL ACETAL— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- ANISE (PIMPINELLA ANISUM L.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- ANISE, OIL (PIMPINELLA ANISUM L.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- ANISE, STAR (ILLICIUM VERUM HOOK, F.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- ANISE, STAR, OIL (ILLICIUM VERUM HOOK, F.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- ANISIC ACID— FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- ANISOLE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- ANISYL ACETATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- ANISYL ALCOHOL— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- ANISYL BUTYRATE— FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- ANISYL FORMATE— FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- ANISYL PHENYLACETATE— FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- ANISYL PROPIONATE— FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- ANNATTO, EXTRACT (BIXA ORELLANA L.)— COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT,<br /> FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT,<br /> FORMULATION AID,<br /> PROCESSING AID,<br /> SURFACE-FINISHING AGENT
- ANNATTO, SEED (BIXA ORELLANA L.)— COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT,<br /> FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- ANOXOMER— ANTIOXIDANT
- ANTHRACITE COAL, SULFONATED— FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- APPLE ESSENCE, NATURAL— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- APRICOT KERNEL, OIL (PRUNUS ARMENIACA L.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- ARABINOGALACTAN— EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT,<br /> FORMULATION AID,<br /> HUMECTANT,<br /> NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT,<br /> PROCESSING AID,<br /> STABILIZER OR THICKENER,<br /> SYNERGIST,<br /> TEXTURIZER
- ARNICA FLOWERS (ARNICA SPP.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- ARROWROOT STARCH— STABILIZER OR THICKENER
- ARTEMISIA (ARTEMISIA SPP.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- ARTEMISIA EXTRACT— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- ARTEMISIA OIL— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- ARTICHOKE LEAVES (CYNARA SCOLYMUS L.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- ASAFETIDA, FLUID EXTRACT (FERULA ASSAFOETIDA L.)— FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- ASAFETIDA, GUM (FERULA ASSAFOETIDA L.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- ASAFETIDA, OIL (FERULA ASSAFOETIDA L.)— FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- ASCORBIC ACID— ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT,<br /> ANTIOXIDANT,<br /> COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT,<br /> DOUGH STRENGTHENER,<br /> FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT,<br /> NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT,<br /> PH CONTROL AGENT,<br /> SEQUESTRANT,<br /> STABILIZER OR THICKENER
- ASCORBYL PALMITATE— ANTIOXIDANT
- ASCORBYL STEARATE— ANTIOXIDANT
- ASPARAGUS, SEED AND ROOT, EXTRACT— FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- ASPERGILLUS NIGER FOR FERMENTATION PRODUCTION OF CITRIC ACID— SOLVENT OR VEHICLE
- ASTAXANTHIN— COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT
- BACTERIAL CATALASE FROM MICROCOCCUS LYSODEIKTICUS— ENZYME
- BAKER'S YEAST GLYCAN— EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT,<br /> STABILIZER OR THICKENER,<br /> TEXTURIZER
- BAKER'S YEAST PROTEIN— LEAVENING AGENT
- BAKERS YEAST EXTRACT— FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT,<br /> MALTING OR FERMENTING AID,<br /> NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
- BALM (MELISSA OFFICINALIS L.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- BALM LEAVES (MELISSA OFFICINALIS L.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- BALM LEAVES, EXTRACT (MELISSA OFFICINALIS L.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- BALM, OIL (MELISSA OFFICINALIS L.)— FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- BALSAM FIR, OIL (ABIES BALSAMEA (L.) MILL.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- BALSAM FIR, OLEORESIN (ABIES BALSAMEA (L.) MILL.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- BALSAM, PERU (MYROXYLON PEREIRAE KLOTZSCH)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- BALSAM, PERU, OIL (MYROXYLON PEREIRAE KLOTZSCH)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- BASIL (OCIMUM BASILICUM L.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- BASIL BUSH (OCIMUM MINIMUM L.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- BASIL, EXTRACT (OCIMUM BASILICUM L.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- BASIL, OIL (OCIMUM BASILICUM L.)— EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- BASIL, OLEORESIN (OCIMUM BASILICUM L.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- BAY (LAURUS NOBILIS L.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- BAY LEAVES, SWEET, EXTRACT (LAURUS NOBILIS L.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- BAY LEAVES, SWEET, OIL (LAURUS NOBILIS L.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- BAY LEAVES, WEST INDIAN, EXTRACT (PIMENTA ACRIS KOSTEL)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- BAY LEAVES, WEST INDIAN, OIL (PIMENTA RACEMOSA (MILL.) J.W. MOORE)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- BAY LEAVES, WEST INDIAN, OLEORESIN (PIMENTA ACRIS KOSTEL)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- BEECHWOOD, CREOSOTE (FAGUS SPP.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- BEESWAX— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT,<br /> LUBRICANT OR RELEASE AGENT,<br /> SURFACE-FINISHING AGENT
- BEESWAX, BLEACHED— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- BENTONITE— DOUGH STRENGTHENER,<br /> FLOUR TREATING AGENT,<br /> OXIDIZING OR REDUCING AGENT,<br /> PROCESSING AID,<br /> STABILIZER OR THICKENER
- BENZALDEHYDE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- BENZALDEHYDE DIMETHYL ACETAL— FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT