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 3,301–3,400 of 3,940
- POTASSIUM SALTS OF FATTY ACIDS— ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT,<br /> EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT,<br /> FORMULATION AID
- POTASSIUM SORBATE— ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT,<br /> ANTIOXIDANT,<br /> COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT,<br /> FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT,<br /> NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT,<br /> PH CONTROL AGENT
- POTASSIUM STEARATE— ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT,<br /> FORMULATION AID,<br /> LUBRICANT OR RELEASE AGENT,<br /> STABILIZER OR THICKENER
- POTASSIUM SULFATE— FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT,<br /> MALTING OR FERMENTING AID
- POTASSIUM SULFITE
- POTASSIUM TRIPOLYPHOSPHATE— NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT,<br /> TEXTURIZER
- POTATO STARCH— FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT,<br /> FORMULATION AID,<br /> LUBRICANT OR RELEASE AGENT,<br /> NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT,<br /> STABILIZER OR THICKENER,<br /> TEXTURIZER
- PRENYL ACETATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PRENYL BENZOATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PRENYL CAPROATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PRENYL FORMATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PRENYL ISOBUTYRATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PRENYL THIOACETATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PRENYLTHIOL— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PRICKLY ASH BARK EXTRACT (XANTHOXYLUM SPP.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PRICKLY ASH BARK, OIL— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PROPANE— PROPELLANT
- PROPENYL PROPYL DISULFIDE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PROPENYLGUAETHOL— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PROPIONALDEHYDE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PROPIONIC ACID— ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT,<br /> PH CONTROL AGENT
- PROPIOPHENONE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PROPYL 2-FURANACRYLATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PROPYL 2-FUROATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PROPYL 2-MERCAPTOPROPIONATE
- PROPYL 2-METHYL-3-FURYL DISULFIDE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PROPYL 2,4-DECADIENOATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PROPYL 4-TERT-BUTYLPHENYLACETATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PROPYL ACETATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PROPYL ALCOHOL— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT,<br /> SOLVENT OR VEHICLE
- PROPYL BENZOATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PROPYL BUTYRATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PROPYL CINNAMATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PROPYL DISULFIDE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PROPYL FORMATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PROPYL GALLATE— ANTIOXIDANT,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PROPYL HEPTANOATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PROPYL HEXANOATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PROPYL ISOBUTYRATE— FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PROPYL ISOVALERATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PROPYL LEVULINATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PROPYL MERCAPTAN— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PROPYL PHENYLACETATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PROPYL PROPANE THIOSULFONATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PROPYL PROPIONATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PROPYL PYRUVATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PROPYL SORBATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PROPYL THIOACETATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PROPYLAMINE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PROPYLENE CHLOROHYDRIN— DOUGH STRENGTHENER
- PROPYLENE GLYCOL— ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT,<br /> ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT,<br /> ANTIOXIDANT,<br /> DRYING AGENT,<br /> EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT,<br /> FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT,<br /> FORMULATION AID,<br /> HUMECTANT,<br /> SOLVENT OR VEHICLE
- PROPYLENE GLYCOL ALGINATE— EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT,<br /> FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT,<br /> FORMULATION AID,<br /> PROCESSING AID,<br /> SOLVENT OR VEHICLE,<br /> STABILIZER OR THICKENER,<br /> SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENT,<br /> SURFACE-FINISHING AGENT
- PROPYLENE GLYCOL DIBENZOATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PROPYLENE GLYCOL MONO- AND DIESTERS OF FATS AND FATTY ACIDS— EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT,<br /> STABILIZER OR THICKENER
- PROPYLENE GLYCOL STEARATE— EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT,<br /> STABILIZER OR THICKENER
- PROPYLENE OXIDE
- PROPYLENEGLYCOL DI-2-METHYLBUTYRATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PROPYLENEGLYCOL DIACETATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PROPYLENEGLYCOL DIBUTYRATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PROPYLENEGLYCOL DIHEXANOATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PROPYLENEGLYCOL DIOCTANOATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PROPYLENEGLYCOL DIPROPIONATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PROPYLENEGLYCOL MONO-2-METHYLBUTYRATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PROPYLENEGLYCOL MONOBUTYRATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PROPYLENEGLYCOL MONOHEXANOATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PROTEASE FROM ASPERGILLUS FLAVUS— ENZYME,<br /> FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT,<br /> PROCESSING AID,<br /> STABILIZER OR THICKENER
- PROTEASE FROM ASPERGILLUS NIGER— ENZYME,<br /> FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT,<br /> PROCESSING AID,<br /> STABILIZER OR THICKENER
- PROTEASE FROM ASPERGILLUS ORYZAE— ENZYME,<br /> FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT,<br /> PROCESSING AID,<br /> STABILIZER OR THICKENER
- PROTEASE FROM BACILLUS AMYLOLIQUEFACIENS— ENZYME
- PROTEASE FROM BACILLUS LICHENIFORMIS— ENZYME,<br /> FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT,<br /> PROCESSING AID,<br /> STABILIZER OR THICKENER
- PROTEASE FROM BACILLUS SUBTILIS— ENZYME,<br /> FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT,<br /> PROCESSING AID,<br /> STABILIZER OR THICKENER
- PROTEIN HYDROLYSATE, UNSPECIFIED— FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT,<br /> NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT,<br /> STABILIZER OR THICKENER,<br /> TEXTURIZER
- PROTEIN, ANIMAL, HYDROLYZED— FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PROTEIN, MILK, HYDROLYZED— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PROTEIN, VEGETABLE, HYDROLYZED— ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT,<br /> DRYING AGENT,<br /> FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT,<br /> HUMECTANT,<br /> NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT,<br /> TEXTURIZER
- PSEUDOIONONE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PSYLLIUM SEED HUSK
- PULEGONE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PULP— PROCESSING AID
- PYRAZINE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PYRAZINE ETHANETHIOL— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PYRAZINYL METHYL SULFIDE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PYRIDINE— FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PYRIDOXINE
- PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE— NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
- PYROLIGNEOUS ACID— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PYROLIGNEOUS ACID, EXTRACT— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PYRROLE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PYRROLIDINE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PYRROLIDINO-[1,2E]-4H-2,4-DIMETHYL-1,3,5-DITHIAZINE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PYRUVALDEHYDE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- PYRUVIC ACID— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- QUASSIA, EXTRACT (PICRASMA EXCELSA (SW.) PLANCH OR QUASSIA AMARA L.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- QUATERNARY AMMONIUM CHLORIDE COMBINATION— ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT
- QUEBRACHO BARK EXTRACT— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- QUILLAIA (QUILLAJA SAPONARIA MOLINA)— EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT,<br /> FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT,<br /> PROCESSING AID,<br /> PROPELLANT,<br /> SURFACE-FINISHING AGENT
- QUILLAIA EXTRACT (QUILLAJA SAPONARIA MOLINA)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- QUINCE SEED, EXTRACT (CYDONIA SPP.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- QUININE BISULFATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- QUININE HYDROCHLORIDE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT