Data-driven overview

The most common additives in Norwegian food

Q: Which additive is most common in Norwegian food?

E330 (Citric acid) is among the most common, found in around 39% of packaged groceries in Norwegian stores.

Q: Are the most common additives dangerous?

No, most are safe. Around 72% of the most-used E-numbers are rated safe. A few, like nitrite (E250) in cured meats, are ones many people choose to limit.

Q: Where do these numbers come from?

The percentages are based on the OpenFoodFacts database of Norwegian groceries, which records how many products contain each E-number. Scan a specific product in Skaren to see exactly what it contains.

We went through over 400 Norwegian groceries to find which E-numbers you actually eat most often. Here are the 146 most common, ranked by the share of products that contain them.

39%

of products contain E330 (Citric acid) — the most common

72%

of the most common E-numbers are rated safe

are additives many people choose to limit

Top 30 most-used E-numbers

Ranked by the share of packaged Norwegian groceries that contain them. Tap any E-number for a full explanation.

1

E330 · Citric acid

Soft drinks, sauces, canned food, sweets

39%

of products
Safe
2

E202 · Potassium sorbate

Cheese, bread, deli meats, dressings

18%

of products
Safe
3

E471 · Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids

Bread, margarine, ice cream, biscuits

15%

of products
Safe
4

E300 · Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C)

Juice, meat, baked goods

14%

of products
Safe
5

E160a · Alpha-carotene / Beta-carotene

Margarine, cheese, drinks

14%

of products
Safe
6

E412 · Guar gum

Ice cream, sauces, gluten-free baking

12%

of products
Safe
7

E500 · Sodium carbonates

Baked goods, cakes, biscuits

12%

of products
Safe
8

E322 · Lecithins

Chocolate, baked goods, margarine

11%

of products
Safe
9

E211 · Sodium benzoate

Soft drinks, sauces, dressings, pickles

10%

of products
Avoid
10

E415 · Xanthan gum

Yogurt, ice cream, dressings, sauces

9%

of products
Safe
11

E450 · Diphosphates

Emulsifier

9%

of products
Moderate
12

E331 · Sodium citrates

Antioxidant

9%

of products
Safe
13

E270 · Lactic acid

Preservative

8%

of products
Safe
14

E950 · Acesulfame K

Diet drinks, sugar-free products

8%

of products
Moderate
15

E160c · Paprika extract / Capsanthin

Colour

7%

of products
Safe
16

E250 · Sodium nitrite

Bacon, ham, sausages, cured meats

7%

of products
Avoid
17

E420 · Sorbitol

Sweetener

7%

of products
Safe
18

E120 · Cochineal / Carmine

Yogurt, sweets, meat products

5%

of products
Moderate
19

E472e · Mono- and diacetyl tartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides

Emulsifier

5%

of products
Safe
20

E951 · Aspartame

Diet soft drinks, sugar-free gum

5%

of products
Moderate
21

E296 · Malic acid

Preservative

5%

of products
Safe
22

E451 · Triphosphates

Emulsifier

5%

of products
Moderate
23

E621 · Monosodium glutamate (MSG)

Snacks, ready meals, stock, seasoning

4%

of products
Moderate
24

E301 · Sodium ascorbate

Antioxidant

4%

of products
Safe
25

E903 · Carnauba wax

Glazing Agent

4%

of products
Safe
26

E262 · Sodium acetate

Preservative

4%

of products
Safe
27

E414 · Acacia gum (Gum arabic)

Thickener

4%

of products
Safe
28

E407 · Carrageenan

Chocolate milk, ice cream, desserts

3%

of products
Moderate
29

E100 · Curcumin

Colour

3%

of products
Safe
30

E101 · Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)

Colour

3%

of products
Safe

The common ones you may want to limit

The vast majority of additives are safe. But a few debated ones still show up often — especially in processed meat and diet soft drinks.

1

E211 · Sodium benzoate

Soft drinks, sauces, dressings, pickles

10%

of products
Avoid
2

E250 · Sodium nitrite

Bacon, ham, sausages, cured meats

7%

of products
Avoid
3

E171 · Titanium dioxide

Colour

1%

of products
Avoid
4

E320 · BHA (Butylated hydroxyanisole)

Antioxidant

<1%

of products
Avoid
5

E319 · TBHQ (Tertiary butylhydroquinone)

Antioxidant

<1%

of products
Avoid

Remember: an additive appearing here doesn't mean it's dangerous in small amounts. It means some people prefer to limit it. Scan a barcode in Skaren to see which ones a specific product contains.

Frequently asked questions

Which additive is most common in Norwegian food?+

E330 (Citric acid) is among the most common, found in around 39% of packaged groceries in Norwegian stores.

Are the most common additives dangerous?+

No, most are safe. Around 72% of the most-used E-numbers are rated safe. A few, like nitrite (E250) in cured meats, are ones many people choose to limit.

Where do these numbers come from?+

The percentages are based on the OpenFoodFacts database of Norwegian groceries, which records how many products contain each E-number. Scan a specific product in Skaren to see exactly what it contains.

Data source: OpenFoodFacts (Norwegian products with an ingredient list), 499 products analysed. Last updated 2026-07-29. Shares are indicative and shift as new products are added.

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