E300E399

E300E399 refers to a range within the European Union's E-number system, a standardized catalogue of approved food additives used to label substances added to foods. Codes in this range cover a variety of additives, with emphasis on antioxidants and related substances, as well as acidity regulators, processing aids, emulsifiers, stabilizers, and sequestrants. Each substance within the block has a unique E-number that appears on ingredient lists to indicate its presence and intended use.

A familiar example in this range is E300, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), widely used as an antioxidant and preservative. The range also includes related ascorbate derivatives and vitamins such as tocopherols (vitamin E), which function as antioxidants, among other substances that support processing and stability of foods. Substances within the 300–399 block are subject to safety assessments by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and must be authorized by the European Commission for specific uses and maximum usage levels under regulatory frameworks such as Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 on food additives.

Not every chemical with a potential function is assigned an E-number, and some numbers within 300–399 may be unused or reserved. The system is designed to provide harmonized labeling across EU member states and to offer transparency to consumers, with the E-number appearing alongside the ingredient name in ingredient lists.