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 2,801–2,900 of 3,940
- METHYL SORBATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- METHYL SULFIDE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- METHYL THIOBUTYRATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- METHYL TRANS-2-OCTENOATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- METHYL VALERATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- METHYL-(3 OR 5 OR 6)-(METHYLTHIO)PYRAZINE (MIXTURE OF ISOMERS)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- METHYL-ALPHA-IONONE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- METHYL-BETA-IONONE— FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- METHYL-DELTA-IONONE— FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- METHYL(E)-2-(Z)-4-DECADIENOATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- METHYLATED SILICA— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- METHYLBENZYL ACETATE (MIXED O-, M-, P-)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- METHYLCYCLOPENTENOLONE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- METHYLENE CHLORIDE— COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT,<br /> FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> SOLVENT OR VEHICLE
- METHYLPOLYSILICONE— LUBRICANT OR RELEASE AGENT
- METHYLTHIO 2-(ACETYLOXY)PROPIONATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- METHYLTHIO 2-(PROPIONYLOXY)PROPIONATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- METHYLTHIOMETHYL BUTYRATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- METHYLTHIOMETHYL HEXANOATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- METHYLTHIOMETHYLMERCAPTAN— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- MICA— COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT
- MICHELIA ALBA, EXTRACT— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- MICROPARTICULATED PROTEIN PRODUCT— NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
- MILK CLOTTING ENZYME FROM BACILLUS CEREUS (FRANKLAND AND FRANKLAND)— ENZYME
- MILK CLOTTING ENZYME FROM ENDOTHIA PARASITICA— ENZYME
- MILK CLOTTING ENZYME FROM MUCOR MIEHEI COONEY ET EMERSON
- MILK CLOTTING ENZYME FROM MUCOR PUSILLUS L.— ENZYME
- MILK CLOTTING ENZYME, ASPERGILLUS ORYZAE RECOMBINANT— ENZYME
- MILK POWDER, WHOLE, ENZYME-MODIFIED— ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT,<br /> DRYING AGENT,<br /> FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT,<br /> FORMULATION AID,<br /> HUMECTANT,<br /> MALTING OR FERMENTING AID,<br /> NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT,<br /> STABILIZER OR THICKENER,<br /> TEXTURIZER
- MIMOSA CONCRETE (ACACIA DECURRENS WILLD. VAR. DEALBATA)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- MIMOSA, ABSOLUTE (ACACIA DECURRENS WILLD. VAR. DEALBATA)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- MINERAL OIL, WHITE— FORMULATION AID,<br /> LUBRICANT OR RELEASE AGENT,<br /> PROCESSING AID,<br /> SOLVENT OR VEHICLE,<br /> STABILIZER OR THICKENER,<br /> SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENT,<br /> SURFACE-FINISHING AGENT,<br /> TEXTURIZER
- MINTLACTONE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- MIXTURE OF 3,6-DIETHYL-1,2,4,5-TETRATHIANE AND 3,5-DIETHYL-1,2,4-TRITHIOLANE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- MIXTURE OF BUTYL PROPYL DISULFIDE AND PROPYL AND BUTYL DISULFIDE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- MIXTURE OF METHYL CYCLOHEXADIENE AND METHYLENE CYCLOHEXENE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- MOLASSES (SACCHARUM OFFICINARUM L.)— NUTRITIVE SWEETENER
- MOLASSES, CONCENTRATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- MOLASSES, EXTRACT (SACCHARUM OFFICINARUM L.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- MOLECULAR SIEVE RESINS— PROCESSING AID
- MONO- AND DIGLYCERIDES, ACETIC ACID ESTERS AND SODIUM AND CALCIUM SALTS— EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT
- MONO- AND DIGLYCERIDES, ACETYLTARTARIC ACID ESTERS AND SODIUM AND CALCIUM SALTS— EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT,<br /> TEXTURIZER
- MONO- AND DIGLYCERIDES, CITRIC ACID ESTERS AND SODIUM AND CALCIUM SALTS— EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT
- MONO- AND DIGLYCERIDES, DIACETYLTARTARIC ACID ESTERS— EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT,<br /> TEXTURIZER
- MONO- AND DIGLYCERIDES, ETHOXYLATED— DOUGH STRENGTHENER,<br /> EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT,<br /> LEAVENING AGENT
- MONO- AND DIGLYCERIDES, LACTIC ACID ESTERS AND SODIUM AND CALCIUM SALTS— EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT
- MONO- AND DIGLYCERIDES, MONOSODIUM PHOSPHATE DERIVATIVES— EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT,<br /> LEAVENING AGENT,<br /> LUBRICANT OR RELEASE AGENT,<br /> SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENT
- MONO- AND DIGLYCERIDES, SODIUM SULFOACETATE DERIVATIVES— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- MONO-, DI-, AND TRIGLYCERIDES— SOLVENT OR VEHICLE
- MONOAMMONIUM GLUTAMATE— FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> STABILIZER OR THICKENER
- MONOCHLOROACETIC ACID--PROHIBITED WITH EXCEPTIONS— ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT
- MONOETHANOLAMINE— WASHING OR SURFACE REMOVAL AGENT
- MONOGLYCERIDE CITRATE— ANTIOXIDANT,<br /> EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT,<br /> SEQUESTRANT,<br /> SYNERGIST
- MONOGLYCERIDES, ACETYLATED— ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT,<br /> COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT,<br /> DRYING AGENT,<br /> EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT,<br /> FORMULATION AID,<br /> HUMECTANT,<br /> LUBRICANT OR RELEASE AGENT,<br /> MASTICATORY SUBSTANCE,<br /> PROCESSING AID,<br /> SURFACE-FINISHING AGENT
- MONOISOPROPYL CITRATE— FORMULATION AID,<br /> SEQUESTRANT,<br /> SYNERGIST
- MONOMENTHYL GLUTARATE, L-— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- MONOMENTHYL SUCCINATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- MONOPOTASSIUM GLUTAMATE— FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
- MONTAN WAX FATTY ACIDS, OXIDATIVELY REFINED, POLYHYDRIC ALCOHOL DIESTERS— SURFACE-FINISHING AGENT
- MORPHOLINE— BOILER WATER ADDITIVE
- MORPHOLINE, FATTY ACID SALTS— SURFACE-FINISHING AGENT
- MOUNTAIN MAPLE (ACER SPICATUM LAM.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- MOUNTAIN MAPLE BARK (ACER SPICATUM LAM.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- MOUNTAIN MAPLE, EXTRACT SOLID (ACER SPICATUM LAM.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- MULLEIN FLOWERS (VERBASCUM SPP.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- MUSHROOM OIL, DISTILLED— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- MUSK AMBRETTE--NLFG— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- MUSK TONQUIN (MOSCHUS MOSCHIFERUS L.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- MUSK, KETONE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- MUSTARD FLOUR— COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT,<br /> PROCESSING AID,<br /> STABILIZER OR THICKENER,<br /> SURFACE-FINISHING AGENT,<br /> TEXTURIZER
- MUSTARD OIL— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- MUSTARD, BROWN (BRASSICA SPP.)— COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT,<br /> STABILIZER OR THICKENER
- MUSTARD, BROWN, EXTRACT (BRASSICA SPP.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- MUSTARD, ORIENTAL— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- MUSTARD, YELLOW (BRASSICA SPP.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT,<br /> STABILIZER OR THICKENER,<br /> TEXTURIZER
- MUSTARD, YELLOW, EXTRACT (BRASSICA SPP.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- MYRCENYL METHYL ETHER— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- MYRICITRIN— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- MYRISTALDEHYDE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- MYRISTIC ACID— FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT,<br /> LUBRICANT OR RELEASE AGENT,<br /> SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENT
- MYRISTYL ALCOHOL— FORMULATION AID,<br /> LUBRICANT OR RELEASE AGENT
- MYRRH, EXTRACT— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- MYRRH, GUM (COMMIPHORA SPP.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- MYRRH, OIL (COMMIPHORA SPP.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- MYRTENOL— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- MYRTENYL ACETATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- MYRTLE LEAVES (MYRTUS COMMUNIS L.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- MYRTLE, OIL (MYRTUS COMMUNIS L.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- N-(1,1-DIMETHYL-2-HYDROXYETHYL)-2,2-DIETHYLBUTANAMIDE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- N-(2-(PYRIDIN-2-YL)ETHYL)-3-P-MENTHANECARBOXAMIDE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- N-(2-HYDROXYETHYL)-2,3-DIMETHYL-2-ISOPROPYLBUTANAMIDE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- N-(2-METHYLCYCLOHEXYL)-2,3,4,5,6-PENTAFLUOROBENZAMIDE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- N-(4-HYDROXY-3-METHOXYBENZYL)-8-METHYL-6-NONENAMIDE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- N-(HEPTAN-4-YL)BENZO[D][1,3]DIOXOLE-5-CARBOXAMIDE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- N-[(ETHOXYCARBONYL)METHYL)-P-MENTHANE-3-CARBOXAMIDE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- N-[2-(3,4-DIMETHOXYPHENYL)ETHYL]-3,4-DIMETHOXYCINNAMIC ACID AMIDE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- N-3,7-DIMETHYL-2,6-OCTADIENYLCYCLOPROPYLCARBOXAMIDE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- N-ACETYL-L-METHIONINE— NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
- N-ALKYL(C8-C18 FROM COCONUT OIL) AMINE ACETATE
- N-BENZOYLANTHRANILIC ACID— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT