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 3,201–3,300 of 3,940
- PHYTYL ACETATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PIMENTA LEAF, OIL (PIMENTA OFFICINALIS LINDL.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PINE BARK, WHITE (PINUS STROBUS L.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PINE BARK, WHITE, EXTRACT SOLID (PINUS STROBUS L.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PINE BARK, WHITE, OIL (PINUS STROBUS L.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PINE NEEDLE, DWARF, OIL (PINUS MUGO TURRA VAR. PUMILIO (HAENKE) ZENARI)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PINE TAR, OIL (PINUS SPP.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PINE, SCOTCH, OIL (PINUS SYLVESTRIS L.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PINE, WHITE, OIL (PINUS SPP.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PINOCARVEOL— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PINOCARVYL ISOBUTYRATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PIPER LONGUM DISTILLATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PIPERAZINE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PIPERAZINE DIHYDROCHLORIDE
- PIPERIDINE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PIPERINE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PIPERITENONE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PIPERITENONE OXIDE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PIPERONAL— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PIPERONAL PROPYLENEGLYCOL ACETAL— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PIPERONYL ACETATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PIPERONYL ISOBUTYRATE— FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PIPSISSEWA LEAVES, EXTRACT (CHIMAPHILA UMBELLATA NUTT.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- POLY(ACRYLIC ACID-CO-HYPOPHOSPHITE), SODIUM SALT— BOILER WATER ADDITIVE
- POLY(ALKYL(C16-22)ACRYLATE)— PROCESSING AID
- POLY(DIVINYLBENZENE-CO-ETHYLSTYRENE)— SOLVENT OR VEHICLE
- POLY(DIVINYLBENZENE-CO-TRIMETHYL(VINYLBENZYL)AMMONIUM CHLORIDE)— PROCESSING AID
- POLY(MALEIC ANHYDRIDE), SODIUM SALT— BOILER WATER ADDITIVE
- POLYACRYLAMIDE— FORMULATION AID
- POLYACRYLAMIDE RESIN, MODIFIED— PROCESSING AID
- POLYACRYLIC ACID, SODIUM SALT— BOILER WATER ADDITIVE,<br /> WASHING OR SURFACE REMOVAL AGENT
- POLYDEXTROSE— FORMULATION AID,<br /> HUMECTANT,<br /> NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT,<br /> STABILIZER OR THICKENER,<br /> TEXTURIZER
- POLYETHYLENE (M W 2,000-21,000)— MALTING OR FERMENTING AID,<br /> SEQUESTRANT,<br /> SURFACE-FINISHING AGENT
- POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL (400) DIOLEATE— SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENT
- POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL (M W 200-9,500)— BOILER WATER ADDITIVE,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT,<br /> FORMULATION AID,<br /> LUBRICANT OR RELEASE AGENT,<br /> SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENT
- POLYETHYLENE, OXIDIZED— SURFACE-FINISHING AGENT
- POLYETHYLENIMINE REACTION PRODUCT W/ 1,2-DICHLOROETHANE— OXIDIZING OR REDUCING AGENT
- POLYGLYCEROL ESTERS OF FATTY ACIDS— EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT,<br /> SOLVENT OR VEHICLE,<br /> STABILIZER OR THICKENER,<br /> SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENT
- POLYGLYCERYL PHTHALATE ESTER OF COCONUT OIL FATTY ACIDS
- POLYISOBUTYLENE (MIN M W 37,000)— MASTICATORY SUBSTANCE
- POLYLIMONENE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT,<br /> SURFACE-FINISHING AGENT
- POLYMALEIC ACID— PROCESSING AID
- POLYMALEIC ACID, SODIUM SALT— PROCESSING AID
- POLYOXYETHYLENE (600) DIOLEATE— SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENT
- POLYOXYETHYLENE (600) MONORICINOLEATE— SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENT
- POLYOXYETHYLENE 40 MONOSTEARATE— SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENT
- POLYOXYETHYLENE DIOLEATE— SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENT
- POLYPROPYLENE GLYCOL (M W 1,200-3,000)— BOILER WATER ADDITIVE,<br /> SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENT
- POLYSORBATE 20— BOILER WATER ADDITIVE,<br /> EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT,<br /> STABILIZER OR THICKENER,<br /> SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENT
- POLYSORBATE 60— BOILER WATER ADDITIVE,<br /> EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT,<br /> STABILIZER OR THICKENER,<br /> SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENT
- POLYSORBATE 65— EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT,<br /> STABILIZER OR THICKENER
- POLYSTYRENE, CROSS-LINKED, CHLOROMETHYLATED, THEN AMINATED WITH TRIMETHYLAMINE, DIMETHYLAMINE, DIETHYLENETRIAMINE, OR TRIETHANOLAMINE
- POLYVINYL ACETATE— MASTICATORY SUBSTANCE
- POLYVINYL ALCOHOL— SOLVENT OR VEHICLE
- POLYVINYL POLYPYRROLIDONE— PROCESSING AID,<br /> SURFACE-FINISHING AGENT
- POLYVINYLPYRROLIDONE— FORMULATION AID,<br /> PROCESSING AID,<br /> SOLVENT OR VEHICLE,<br /> STABILIZER OR THICKENER,<br /> SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENT
- POMEGRANATE BARK, EXTRACT (PUNICA GRANATUM L.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- POPLAR BUDS (POPULUS SPP.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- POPPY SEED (PAPAVER SOMNIFERUM L.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- POTASSIUM 2-(1'-ETHOXY)ETHOXYPROPANOATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- POTASSIUM ACETATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- POTASSIUM ACID PYROPHOSPHATE— EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT,<br /> TEXTURIZER
- POTASSIUM ACID TARTRATE— EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT,<br /> NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT,<br /> PH CONTROL AGENT
- POTASSIUM BENZOATE— ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT
- POTASSIUM BICARBONATE— FORMULATION AID,<br /> LEAVENING AGENT,<br /> NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT,<br /> PH CONTROL AGENT,<br /> PROCESSING AID
- POTASSIUM BISULFITE— ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT
- POTASSIUM BORATE
- POTASSIUM BROMIDE— WASHING OR SURFACE REMOVAL AGENT
- POTASSIUM CAPRATE— ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT,<br /> EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT,<br /> LUBRICANT OR RELEASE AGENT
- POTASSIUM CAPRYLATE— ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT,<br /> EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT,<br /> LUBRICANT OR RELEASE AGENT
- POTASSIUM CARBONATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT,<br /> LEAVENING AGENT,<br /> NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT,<br /> PH CONTROL AGENT,<br /> PROCESSING AID
- POTASSIUM CASEINATE— ENZYME,<br /> NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
- POTASSIUM CHLORIDE— ENZYME,<br /> FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT,<br /> MALTING OR FERMENTING AID,<br /> NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT,<br /> PH CONTROL AGENT,<br /> PROCESSING AID,<br /> STABILIZER OR THICKENER
- POTASSIUM CITRATE— EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT,<br /> FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT,<br /> NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT,<br /> PH CONTROL AGENT,<br /> SEQUESTRANT
- POTASSIUM CYCLAMATE--PROHIBITED— NON-NUTRITIVE SWEETENER
- POTASSIUM FUMARATE— NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
- POTASSIUM GIBBERELLATE— PROCESSING AID
- POTASSIUM GLUCONATE— NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT,<br /> SEQUESTRANT
- POTASSIUM GLYCEROPHOSPHATE
- POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE— FORMULATION AID,<br /> FUMIGANT,<br /> PH CONTROL AGENT,<br /> PROCESSING AID,<br /> STABILIZER OR THICKENER,<br /> WASHING OR SURFACE REMOVAL AGENT
- POTASSIUM HYPOPHOSPHATE
- POTASSIUM HYPOPHOSPHITE
- POTASSIUM IODATE— DOUGH STRENGTHENER,<br /> FLOUR TREATING AGENT,<br /> MALTING OR FERMENTING AID,<br /> NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT,<br /> OXIDIZING OR REDUCING AGENT
- POTASSIUM IODIDE— NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT,<br /> TRACER
- POTASSIUM LACTATE— FLAVOR ENHANCER
- POTASSIUM LAURATE— ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT,<br /> EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT,<br /> LUBRICANT OR RELEASE AGENT
- POTASSIUM METABISULFITE— ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT,<br /> ANTIOXIDANT,<br /> COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT,<br /> DOUGH STRENGTHENER,<br /> FLOUR TREATING AGENT,<br /> OXIDIZING OR REDUCING AGENT
- POTASSIUM MYRISTATE— ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT,<br /> EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT,<br /> LUBRICANT OR RELEASE AGENT
- POTASSIUM N-METHYLDITHIOCARBAMATE— ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT
- POTASSIUM NITRATE— ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT,<br /> COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT,<br /> FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- POTASSIUM NITRITE
- POTASSIUM OLEATE— ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT,<br /> EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT,<br /> FORMULATION AID,<br /> STABILIZER OR THICKENER
- POTASSIUM PALMITATE— ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT,<br /> EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT,<br /> FORMULATION AID
- POTASSIUM PECTINATE— EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT,<br /> STABILIZER OR THICKENER
- POTASSIUM PERMANGANATE— ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT,<br /> EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT,<br /> FORMULATION AID
- POTASSIUM PERSULFATE— SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENT
- POTASSIUM PHOSPHATE, MONOBASIC— MALTING OR FERMENTING AID,<br /> NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT,<br /> PH CONTROL AGENT,<br /> STABILIZER OR THICKENER
- POTASSIUM PHOSPHATE, TRIBASIC— EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT,<br /> PH CONTROL AGENT,<br /> STABILIZER OR THICKENER
- POTASSIUM POLYMETAPHOSPHATE— EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT,<br /> HUMECTANT
- POTASSIUM PYROPHOSPHATE— EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT,<br /> TEXTURIZER