What are ‘E’ numbers ?

‘E’ numbers started to appear on labels in the 1980’s. They are codes for substances that are permitted to be used as food additives for use within the European Union. Other countries also use these as bench marks together with their own testings.

‘E’ stands for Europe.

‘E’ numbers are only allowed to be used if ‘experts’ decide they are necessary and safe.

Some ‘E’ numbers are totally harmless and are simply given an ‘E’ to help classify them better.
i.e. E100 – E199 ( colours )
E1000 – E1599 ( additional chemicals ) New chemicals that do not fall into standard classification schemes.

‘E’ numbers are somtimes used as a pejorative term for artificial food additives and products may promote themselves as “free of ‘E’ numbers.” This is incorrect because many companents of natural foods have ‘E’ numbers ( and the number is a synonym for the chemical component ), e.g. Vitamin C – Ascorbic Acid .

Shellac, though not tested for it’s safety, has been given the ‘E’ number E904. This is a glazing agent.

Safety Testing

In general, food additives must be subjected to a wide range of tests before they are allowed in food. An extensive range of animal and other tests have been devised to assess every conceivable risk to the consumer.
Tests assess how the additive reacts in the body and also look for any TOXIC effects at the levels the additive is to be used in foods. This includes testing to see if there is any chance of genetic damage or cancers being caused by the long-term use of the additive.
I.e. eating a high amount ( or dose ) of anything may be harmful but at a lower level it can be safe.

In a Nutshell

‘E’ numbers are only allowed to be used if “experts” decide they are safe.

European Food and Safety Authority

Food and Drug Agency ( USA )

Powdered Colours

Powdered Colours – White Tops Edible mat coloured powders, made from the finest of pigments which can be used in a variety pf projects. Most people now a days use different mediums to show off their talents.
For the cake decorator — petal paste (gum paste ) chocolate marzipan, modelling paste. The colours can be used by adding straight into your chosen medium, painting and dusting.
For the art and craft people you may decide to use a different medium such as polymer clay type products or cold water porcelain as well as the above. Whatever you decide to use, these colours will work.
Bring your work to life. “The Colour of Nature.”

Gold Experience

Purple Tops – Gold Experience the colours in this range give an illusion of gold, some plain gold, some coloured gold. All have a shiny appearance. You can do exactly the same with this range as you do with the white tops (mat colours ) You possibly will loss some of the shine.
Contains Copper and Zinc Golden Rose, Golden Lemon, Old Gold, Golden Ginger and Bright Gold. Arts, Crafts and Decoration only and is different from the other golds.

Tints and Pearls

Cream Tops – Tints and Pearl Range. All colours give a shiny appearance. They can be added into your paste and all your other mediums, will. possibly not be as shiny. Again dust or paint will keep the shine.

Disco Range

These are the Yellow Tops – Disco Range — Glitters — Arts, Crafts and Decoration only.
They are not a food or made with food related materials.
Our mother company is the only company to hold the non-toxic certificates, so we can say that the
Disco range is NON-TOXIC. FD&C approved.
Our certificates for safety :— Food contact. cosmetic, toys, arts and crafts.
What is glitter— it is a verb. They twinkle and sparkle. They shine with bright, shimmering, reflected light. A prism of colour.
Glitter is transparent and poorly absorbed. It is cut into nano sized square and hexagon shapes, not shredded as some profess, fused with colour so when the light catches these shapes they are like little jewels and stars shining brightly. Anything else is not a glitter but a sparkle.

Black Tops

Black Tops Art, Craft and Decorative Colours. The majority of these colours are made up of base pigments E127 and E123.
E127 — red 3 — has synthetic iodine incorporated. This base is used for the pink and purple colours. Daily intake 0.2mgs/kg body weight at full strength. A 12/15% is all that is used with our product as high concentrations could interfere with the iodine metabolism However, with the above concentrations the interference cannot be readied through the consumption of food.
E127 is the colour used in candied cherries that go into confectionery, baking and decorations. The concentration of the colour used is higher. Pharmaceutical companies have no legislations on the concentration or the amount used.
E123 – red 9 – synthetic aze dye. Again this is a base colour for purple/red colours. Daily intake 0.5mgs/Kg body weight. The lower strength on this colour is used. A connection between tumours in rats was found, but has not been proven in humans. Therefore restrictions of the body weight was brought into force pending on further tests. This was brought into force several years ago.

E171 Titanium Dioxide has been changed to E170