How to read E-numbers on Australian labels

A 30-second label check, before you paste anything into the checker.

1. Find the ingredients list

It is usually on the back or side of the pack, near the nutrition panel. Ingredients are listed in order, so the first items make up most of the product. If you cannot find an ingredients list, do not guess — the checker needs label text to give a useful result.

2. What an E-number means

An E-number is a code for a food additive — a colour, emulsifier, thickener, preservative, or similar ingredient. The number alone does not tell you the source. For example, E471 can come from plant oils or from animal fats, which is why this checker returns Doubt when only “E471” is stated with no source.

3. Words that matter more than the number

• “Halal certified” or a recognised Halal logo — the strongest signal on the pack for this checker.
• A stated source, such as “vegetable”, “plant-based”, “soy” or “sunflower” — this can clear a doubtful ingredient in this checker.
• A named animal source, such as “pork gelatin” — this checker treats that as Haram, even if a product also carries other claims.
• No source at all — for ingredients whose source matters, the honest result is Doubt, not a guess.

4. Copy the list exactly

When you paste into the home checker, copy the ingredients as printed, including E-numbers and any source words. Changing a word can change the result, because the checker only knows what the label actually says.

Other guides

What to do when the source is unclear · Halal certifiers shoppers see on packs · E471 · E441 gelatin · E422 glycerol