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 2,001–2,100 of 3,940
- ETHYL TRANS-2-OCTENOATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- ETHYL TRANS-2,CIS-4-DECADIENOATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- ETHYL TRANS-4-DECENOATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- ETHYL UNDECANOATE— FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- ETHYL VALERATE— FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- ETHYL VANILLIN— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT,<br /> PH CONTROL AGENT
- ETHYL VANILLIN BETA-D-GLUCOPYRANOSIDE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- ETHYL VANILLIN ISOBUTYRATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- ETHYL VANILLIN PROPYLENE GLYCOL ACETAL— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- ETHYLAMINE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- ETHYLENE DICHLORIDE— FUMIGANT
- ETHYLENE GLYCOL DISTEARATE
- ETHYLENE GLYCOL MONOBUTYL ETHER— WASHING OR SURFACE REMOVAL AGENT
- ETHYLENE GLYCOL MONOETHYL ETHER— FORMULATION AID,<br /> SOLVENT OR VEHICLE
- ETHYLENE GLYCOL MONOPHENYL ETHER— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- ETHYLENE OXIDE POLYMER— STABILIZER OR THICKENER
- ETHYLENE OXIDE POLYMER, ALKYL ADDUCT
- ETHYLENE OXIDE POLYMER, ALKYL ADDUCT, PHOSPHATE ESTER— WASHING OR SURFACE REMOVAL AGENT
- ETHYLENE OXIDE--NLFG— ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT,<br /> FUMIGANT
- ETHYLENE OXIDE/PROPYLENE OXIDE COPOLYMER— DOUGH STRENGTHENER,<br /> DRYING AGENT,<br /> STABILIZER OR THICKENER,<br /> SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENT
- ETHYLENE OXIDE/PROPYLENE OXIDE COPOLYMER (AVG M W 14,000)— DOUGH STRENGTHENER,<br /> LEAVENING AGENT,<br /> PROCESSING AID,<br /> STABILIZER OR THICKENER,<br /> SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENT
- ETHYLENE OXIDE/PROPYLENE OXIDE COPOLYMER (AVG M W 3,500-4,125)— DOUGH STRENGTHENER,<br /> LEAVENING AGENT,<br /> PROCESSING AID,<br /> STABILIZER OR THICKENER,<br /> SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENT
- ETHYLENE OXIDE/PROPYLENE OXIDE COPOLYMER (AVG M W 9,760 - 13,200)— DOUGH STRENGTHENER,<br /> LEAVENING AGENT,<br /> PROCESSING AID,<br /> STABILIZER OR THICKENER,<br /> SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENT
- ETHYLENE OXIDE/PROPYLENE OXIDE COPOLYMER (MIN AVG M W 1,900)— DOUGH STRENGTHENER,<br /> LEAVENING AGENT,<br /> PROCESSING AID,<br /> STABILIZER OR THICKENER,<br /> SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENT
- ETHYLENE OXIDE/PROPYLENE OXIDE COPOLYMER, ALKYL ADDUCT— WASHING OR SURFACE REMOVAL AGENT
- ETHYLENE OXIDE/PROPYLENE OXIDE COPOLYMER, ALKYL ADDUCT, PHOSPHATE ESTER— WASHING OR SURFACE REMOVAL AGENT
- ETHYLENEDIAMINE— TRACER
- ETHYLENEDIAMINETETRAACETIC ACID DISODIUM SALT— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- EUCALYPTOL— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- EUCALYPTUS, OIL (EUCALYPTUS GLOBULUS LABILLE)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- EUGENOL— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- EUGENYL ACETATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- EUGENYL BENZOATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- EUGENYL FORMATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- EUGENYL ISOVALERATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- EUGENYL METHYL ETHER--NLFG
- FARNESAL— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- FARNESENE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- FARNESOL— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- FATTY ACIDS— FORMULATION AID,<br /> LUBRICANT OR RELEASE AGENT,<br /> SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENT,<br /> SURFACE-FINISHING AGENT
- FATTY ALCOHOLS, SYNTHETIC
- FD&C BLUE NO. 1, ALUMINUM LAKE— COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT
- FD&C BLUE NO. 1, CALCIUM LAKE— COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT
- FD&C BLUE NO. 2, ALUMINUM LAKE— COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT
- FD&C BLUE NO. 2, CALCIUM LAKE— COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT
- FD&C GREEN NO. 1--DELISTED
- FD&C GREEN NO. 2--DELISTED
- FD&C GREEN NO. 3, ALUMINUM LAKE— COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT
- FD&C GREEN NO. 3, CALCIUM LAKE— COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT
- FD&C RED NO. 1--DELISTED
- FD&C RED NO. 2--DELISTED
- FD&C RED NO. 3, ALUMINUM LAKE--DELISTED
- FD&C RED NO. 3, CALCIUM LAKE--DELISTED
- FD&C RED NO. 4--DELISTED
- FD&C RED NO. 40, ALUMINUM LAKE— COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT
- FD&C RED NO. 40, CALCIUM LAKE— COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT
- FD&C VIOLET NO. 1--DELISTED
- FD&C YELLOW NO. 5, ALUMINUM LAKE— COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT
- FD&C YELLOW NO. 5, CALCIUM LAKE— COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT
- FD&C YELLOW NO. 6, ALUMINUM LAKE— COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT,<br /> FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- FD&C YELLOW NO. 6, CALCIUM LAKE— COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT
- FENCHYL ALCOHOL— FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- FENNEL, COMMON (FOENICULUM VULGARE MILL.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- FENNEL, SWEET (FOENICULUM VULGARE MILL. VAR. DULCE (D.C.) ALEF.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- FENNEL, SWEET, OIL (FOENICULUM VULGARE MILL. VAR. DULCE (D.C.) ALEF.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- FENUGREEK (TRIGONELLA FOENUM-GRAECUM L.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- FENUGREEK, EXTRACT (TRIGONELLA FOENUM-GRAECUM L.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- FENUGREEK, OLEORESIN (TRIGONELLA FOENUM-GRAECUM L.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- FERRIC AMMONIUM CITRATE, BROWN— NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
- FERRIC CHLORIDE— ENZYME,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT,<br /> PROCESSING AID
- FERRIC CITRATE— NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
- FERRIC OXIDE— COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT,<br /> PROCESSING AID
- FERRIC PEPTONATE— NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
- FERRIC PHOSPHATE— NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
- FERRIC PYROPHOSPHATE— NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
- FERRIC SODIUM PYROPHOSPHATE
- FERRIC SULFATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- FERROCYANIDE SALTS
- FERROUS ASCORBATE— NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
- FERROUS CARBONATE
- FERROUS CITRATE— NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
- FERROUS FUMARATE— NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
- FERROUS GLUCONATE— COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT,<br /> NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
- FERROUS L-LACTATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- FERROUS LACTATE— COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT,<br /> NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
- FERROUS PEPTONATE— NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
- FERROUS SULFATE— NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT,<br /> PROCESSING AID,<br /> STABILIZER OR THICKENER
- FICIN— ENZYME,<br /> PROCESSING AID
- FIR (PINE) NEEDLES AND TWIGS (ABIES SIBIRICA LEDEB.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- FIR NEEDLES AND TWIGS, OIL (ABIES SPP.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- FIR, BALSAM, NEEDLES AND TWIGS (ABIES BALSAMEA (L.) MILL.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- FISH PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, WHOLE— NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
- FISH PROTEIN ISOLATE— NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
- FOLIC ACID— NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
- FORMALDEHYDE— FUMIGANT
- FORMIC ACID— FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT,<br /> FORMULATION AID
- FRUIT JUICE— COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT,<br /> NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
- FULLERS EARTH— PROCESSING AID
- FUMARIC ACID— ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT,<br /> CURING OR PICKLING AGENT,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT,<br /> LEAVENING AGENT,<br /> PH CONTROL AGENT
- FUNGAL HEMICELLULASE— ENZYME