All ingredients with a number are they an additive?

QUESTION:

Is it right or wrong to assume all product ingredients with a number are an additive?

ANSWER:

If you see a product with a number on it, it will be an additive. The categorisation of additives, generally speaking are:

100 Colours
200 Preservatives
300 Antioxidants, acidity regulators
400 Emulsifiers, Stabilisers, thickeners, gelling agents
500 Anti caking agents, raising agents, firming agents
600 Flavour enhancers
900 Sweeteners

Manufacturers have realised that consumers have become savvy and seek to avoid numbers, so they will use the name instead. For example, you may see “Carrageenan” listed on an ingredient label. It is additive 407, but the manufacturer would prefer to not alert customers to the fact that it is an additive.

They key is to understanding each ingredient and whether you recognise that as an ingredient that you have in your pantry and would cook with it yourself. If not, pop the product back on the supermarket shelf.