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 3,901–3,940 of 3,940
- WHEAT STARCH— FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT,<br /> FORMULATION AID,<br /> SOLVENT OR VEHICLE,<br /> STABILIZER OR THICKENER,<br /> TEXTURIZER
- WHEY— COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT,<br /> FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FORMULATION AID,<br /> MALTING OR FERMENTING AID,<br /> NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT,<br /> PROCESSING AID,<br /> SOLVENT OR VEHICLE,<br /> STABILIZER OR THICKENER,<br /> SURFACE-FINISHING AGENT,<br /> TEXTURIZER
- WHEY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE— FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT,<br /> NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT,<br /> SOLVENT OR VEHICLE,<br /> STABILIZER OR THICKENER,<br /> TEXTURIZER
- WHEY, DELACTOSED— NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT,<br /> STABILIZER OR THICKENER,<br /> TEXTURIZER
- WHEY, DEMINERALIZED— FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT,<br /> SOLVENT OR VEHICLE
- WHEY, PARTIALLY DIMINERALIZED AND PARTIALLY DELACTOSED— FORMULATION AID
- WINTERGREEN, EXTRACT (GAULTHERIA PROCUMBENS L.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- WINTERGREEN, OIL (GAULTHERIA PROCUMBENS L.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- WOODRUFF, SWEET (ASPERULA ODORATA L.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- WORT
- XANTHOPHYLL
- XYLITOL— HUMECTANT,<br /> NUTRITIVE SWEETENER
- YARROW, HERB (ACHILLEA MILLEFOLIUM L.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- YARROW, OIL (ACHILLEA MILLEFOLIUM L.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- YEAST AUTOLYSATE— ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT,<br /> DRYING AGENT,<br /> FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT,<br /> HUMECTANT,<br /> LEAVENING AGENT,<br /> MALTING OR FERMENTING AID,<br /> NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
- YEAST EXTRACT AUTOLYZED
- YEAST-MALT SPROUT EXTRACT— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- YEAST, DRIED IRRADIATED— NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
- YEASTS— ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT,<br /> DRYING AGENT,<br /> FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT,<br /> HUMECTANT,<br /> LEAVENING AGENT,<br /> MALTING OR FERMENTING AID,<br /> NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
- YEASTS, DRIED— FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT,<br /> LEAVENING AGENT,<br /> MALTING OR FERMENTING AID,<br /> NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT,<br /> SOLVENT OR VEHICLE
- YELLOW PRUSSIATE OF SODA— ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT,<br /> DRYING AGENT,<br /> FORMULATION AID,<br /> HUMECTANT
- YERBA SANTA, FLUID EXTRACT (ERIODICTYON CALIFORNICUM (HOOK AND ARN) TORR)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- YLANG-YLANG, OIL (CANANGA ODORATA HOOK. F. AND THOMAS)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- YUCCA, JOSHUA-TREE (YUCCA BREVIFOLIA ENGELM.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT,<br /> PROPELLANT
- YUCCA, MOHAVE, EXTRACT (YUCCA SPP.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT,<br /> PROPELLANT
- YUZUNONE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- Z-5-OCTENYL ACETATE— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- ZEDOARY (CURCUMA ZEDOARIA (BERG.) ROSC.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- ZEDOARY BARK, EXTRACT (CURCUMA ZEDOARIA (BERG.) ROSC.)— FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
- ZEIN POWDER— ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT,<br /> DRYING AGENT,<br /> HUMECTANT
- ZINC ACETATE
- ZINC CARBONATE— NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
- ZINC CHLORIDE— NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
- ZINC DITHIONITE— NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
- ZINC GLUCONATE— NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
- ZINC METHIONINE SULFATE— NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
- ZINC OXIDE— COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT,<br /> NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
- ZINC STEARATE— NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
- ZINC SULFATE— MALTING OR FERMENTING AID,<br /> NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
- ZINGERONE— FLAVOR ENHANCER,<br /> FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT