Do ingredients have to be listed in order?

Yes. In both the US and EU, ingredients must be listed in descending order by weight. The ingredient present in the largest amount comes first. This rule applies to every packaged food product.

What does 'contains less than 2%' mean on a label?

When a manufacturer lists several minor ingredients together under a 'contains less than 2% of the following' statement, it means each of those ingredients makes up less than 2% of the total product by weight. They can be listed in any order after that statement.

E-numbers are assigned only to additives that have been evaluated and approved by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Approval means the additive is considered safe at the permitted levels. However, some approved additives have ongoing research questions, and individual sensitivities vary. BioBrief's additive checker explains the current regulatory status and any notable research for each E-number.

How can I quickly check an ingredient I don't recognize?

BioBrief lets you scan any product barcode or photograph the ingredients list. It identifies every additive, explains what it is, and flags any regulatory concerns — so you don't need to memorize E-numbers.

Food Labels

How to Read Ingredient Labels

Ingredient labels are legally required to tell you exactly what's in your food — but they're written in a way that makes them easy to ignore. This guide walks you through the rules manufacturers must follow and the tricks they use to obscure what's really inside.

Ingredients Are Listed by Weight

The first ingredient on the list is the one present in the largest amount by weight. If sugar is the first ingredient in a 'fruit' snack, the product contains more sugar than fruit. This rule applies in the US, EU, and most other markets. Use it as a quick sanity check: the first three ingredients tell you what the product mostly is.

What Are E-Numbers?

E-numbers are codes assigned by the European Union to approved food additives. They cover colorants (E100–E199), preservatives (E200–E299), antioxidants (E300–E399), thickeners and stabilizers (E400–E499), and more. An E-number on a label is not automatically a warning sign — vitamin C is E300, for example. But knowing the ranges helps you quickly identify what category of additive you're looking at.

Compound Ingredients and Nested Lists

When an ingredient is itself made from multiple components — like 'chocolate (sugar, cocoa butter, cocoa mass, emulsifier: soy lecithin)' — the sub-ingredients are listed in parentheses. This is called a compound ingredient. The sub-ingredients are also ordered by weight within the compound. Watch for compound ingredients that push sugar or fat further down the main list while still contributing significant amounts.

Allergen Declarations

In the EU, the 14 major allergens (including gluten, milk, eggs, nuts, soy, and sesame) must be highlighted in the ingredient list — typically in bold, italics, or underlined. In the US, the top 9 allergens must be declared either in the ingredient list or in a separate 'Contains:' statement. 'May contain traces of...' warnings are voluntary and indicate shared production equipment, not intentional inclusion.

'Natural' vs 'Artificial' — What the Terms Actually Mean

In the US, 'natural flavors' means the flavor was derived from a plant, animal, or fermentation source — but the extraction and processing can be extensive. 'Artificial flavors' means the flavor was synthesized chemically. Neither term tells you what specific compounds are present. The EU requires more specific labeling: 'natural strawberry flavoring' must come predominantly from strawberries, while 'natural flavoring' can come from any natural source.

The Serving Size Trap

Nutrition facts are calculated per serving, and manufacturers set their own serving sizes. A bag of chips might list 140 calories per serving while defining a serving as 28g — less than half the bag. Always check how many servings are in the package and multiply accordingly. In the US, serving sizes are supposed to reflect amounts people actually eat, but enforcement is inconsistent.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do ingredients have to be listed in order?: Yes. In both the US and EU, ingredients must be listed in descending order by weight. The ingredient present in the largest amount comes first. This rule applies to every packaged food product.
What does 'contains less than 2%' mean on a label?: When a manufacturer lists several minor ingredients together under a 'contains less than 2% of the following' statement, it means each of those ingredients makes up less than 2% of the total product by weight. They can be listed in any order after that statement.
Are E-numbers safe?: E-numbers are assigned only to additives that have been evaluated and approved by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Approval means the additive is considered safe at the permitted levels. However, some approved additives have ongoing research questions, and individual sensitivities vary. BioBrief's additive checker explains the current regulatory status and any notable research for each E-number.
How can I quickly check an ingredient I don't recognize?: BioBrief lets you scan any product barcode or photograph the ingredients list. It identifies every additive, explains what it is, and flags any regulatory concerns — so you don't need to memorize E-numbers.