Titanium dioxideE171
ColorantLow concern⚠ Banned in EU
Banned & Restricted Food Additives
The following additives are banned or restricted in the European Union or in other countries. Regulations vary by jurisdiction and change over time. Always check the current rules for your country.
16 additives listed
Banned or Restricted in the EU
These additives are not permitted or are tightly restricted under EU food law.
Restricted in Some Countries
These additives are not banned in the EU but are restricted in at least one other country.
TartrazineE102
ColorantSafeAllergen
Patent blue vE131
ColorantSafe
SorbitolE420
SweetenerLow concern
Sodium nitriteE250
PreservativeModerate concern
E173E173
ColorantLow concern
Brilliant greenE142
ColorantLow concern
AzorubineE122
ColorantModerate concern
Cyclamic acidE952
SweetenerModerate concern
Ponceau redE124
ColorantModerate concern
AmaranthE123
ColorantModerate concern
Brown HTE155
ColorantModerate concern
Brilliant blackE151
ColorantModerate concern
Deep Dives
- US vs EU Food Additives: What's Banned Where? →
How the two regulatory systems differ and which ingredients are caught in the gap.
- Red 3 (Erythrosine): Banned in EU, Still in US Food →
A synthetic red dye with a complicated regulatory history on both sides of the Atlantic.
- Titanium Dioxide (E171): Why the EU Banned It from Food →
EFSA's 2021 genotoxicity finding and the 2022 EU ban explained.
- Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO): FDA Revoked Authorization →
Used in US citrus drinks for decades, BVO was finally removed from the approved list in 2024.
- Potassium Bromate: A Flour Additive Banned in Most of the World →
Banned in the EU, UK, Canada, and many other countries — but still legal in some US states.