Food additives banned in Europe and what is still allowed
Food additives banned in Europe include E171 and Red 2G. EU rules allow Red 40 and BHT only for listed uses. Great Britain still permits E171 in food.
Food additives banned in Europe include titanium dioxide (E 171) and Red 2G (E 128), which cannot be used in EU food. The EU uses a positive list: only listed additives are authorised, under specified conditions (Article 4). An additive that is not listed is not allowed.
Here, Europe means the EU; UK rules differ and are covered below. For each additive, check your food category and permitted level in the Commission food additives database. An E number alone doesn't establish permission.
List of banned food additives in Europe
These are selected former food authorisations that the EU suspended or withdrew:
| E number | Additive | Act | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| E 128 | Red 2G | Reg 884/2007, suspended 28 July 2007 | Breaks down to aniline, a carcinogen |
| E 154 | Brown FK | Reg 1129/2011 | No longer used; EFSA could not conclude on safety |
| E 216, E 217 | Propylparaben and its sodium salt | Directive 2006/52/EC | No ADI could be set |
| E 558 | Bentonite | Reg 380/2012 | Aluminium-containing, authorised until 31 May 2013 |
| E 556, E 559 | Calcium aluminium silicate, kaolin | Reg 380/2012 | Aluminium-containing, authorised until 31 Jan 2014 |
| E 912 | Montan acid esters | Reg 957/2014 | Removed |
| E 203 | Calcium sorbate | Reg 2018/98 | No genotoxicity data |
| E 311, E 312 | Octyl gallate, dodecyl gallate | Reg 2018/1481 | No suitable toxicology data |
| E 483 | Stearyl tartrate | Reg 2023/2379 | No data sent for re-evaluation, applies from 23 Apr 2024 |
| E 171 | Titanium dioxide | Reg 2022/63 | Genotoxicity concern could not be ruled out |
On 6 May 2021, EFSA said titanium dioxide can no longer be considered safe as a food additive. The EU ban took effect on 7 February 2022. Foods that complied with the old rules could be placed on the market until 7 August 2022. They may then remain on the market until their date of minimum durability or use-by date (Commission). E 171 remains listed only for use as a colour in medicines.
Potassium bromate (E 924), azodicarbonamide (E 927a) and brominated vegetable oil (E 443) are absent from the Union list. They are therefore not authorised as EU food additives.
Food dyes banned in Europe or allowed with limits
Red 40 is not among the food dyes banned in Europe. Allura Red AC (E 129, US Red 40), tartrazine (E 102, Yellow 5), sunset yellow (E 110, Yellow 6), brilliant blue (E 133, Blue 1) and indigotine (E 132, Blue 2) have authorised uses and maximum levels. The FDA's table matches the US names to their E numbers.
Under Annex V, foods with E 110, E 104, E 122, E 129, E 102 or E 124 need a warning. The colour's name or E number must precede "may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children". Exemptions cover colours used for health marking on meat or decorating eggshells, and drinks over 1.2% alcohol.
Erythrosine (E 127, US Red No. 3) is allowed only in cocktail and candied cherries at 200 mg/kg, and in bigarreaux cherries in syrup and cocktails at 150 mg/kg. Amaranth (E 123) is limited to fish roe other than sturgeon caviar, aperitif wines, bitter vino, bitter soda, some spirit drinks and other alcoholic drinks under 15%, per Reg 1129/2011. FD&C Green No. 3 is absent from that Union list.
BHT, carrageenan and artificial sweeteners
BHT isn't banned. BHA (E 320), BHT (E 321), carrageenan (E 407) and the artificial sweetener aspartame (E 951) have authorised EU uses. They also appear on the GB approved list. On 10 September 2026, EFSA reconfirmed the aspartame ADI of 40 mg/kg bw per day.
Carrageenan cannot be used in jelly mini-cups. Other gelling agents in the same rule cannot either. Konjac (E 425) is barred from all jelly confectionery (Reg 1129/2011).
Banned E numbers in the UK
Is E102 banned in the UK? No, nor is E129. Both are on the GB approved list. The children's activity warning also applies.
Great Britain still allows E 171. Northern Ireland follows the EU prohibition, but goods authorised in Great Britain that contain titanium dioxide can move into Northern Ireland through the Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme (GB approved list). That list still includes stearyl tartrate (E 483), unlike the EU. The other withdrawn additives in the table are absent.
What US exporters should check
US permission doesn't establish EU permission. US bromated flour may contain potassium bromate up to 50 ppm under 21 CFR 137.155. Azodicarbonamide is permitted in flour up to 45 ppm under 21 CFR 172.806. The FDA revoked BVO authorisation effective 2 August 2024, with compliance required by 2 August 2025. The Red No. 3 food compliance deadline is 15 January 2027. BHA, BHT, azodicarbonamide, potassium bromate and titanium dioxide are on the FDA's list of chemicals under review.
RegAffairs AI's answer on banned additives in Europe covers Red 40 and the UK E171 split.