Imports and food additives

Friday 30 September 2005

All products imported into the UK must comply with European Union (EU) law on miscellaneous food additives (e.g. preservatives, antioxidants, colours, sweeteners, flavourings and emulsifiers).

Strict labelling rules require that when food additives are used they must appear clearly in the list of ingredients on food labels, showing their function plus either the name of the additive or its E number. However, where an additive has been used in an ingredient of a compound food and where that ingredient is less than 25% of the total food and performs no technological function in the final food, it does not have to appear on the label.

Remember that some food additives that are permitted in the product's country of origin may not be approved in the EU.