01 / TERMSWhat the words mean.
We score ingredients, not products. On this page we report what regulators say. Each ingredient is here because the EU, Health Canada or the US FDA banned it, tightened its limit, or requires a warning label for it.
- Banned: the regulator does not allow it in that type of product.
- Restricted: it is allowed, but only in some products or below a maximum the regulator set or lowered.
- Warning label: it is allowed, but the label must carry a statement the regulator wrote.
- Not authorised (EU): only food additives on the EU list may be used in food (Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Article 4). An additive that is not on the list cannot be used.
Each entry says what the ingredient is, where it is used, and what the EU, Canada and the US say. Rules change. The dates below are the ones in each source.
02 / REMOVEDRemoved from food.
Partially hydrogenated oils (industrial trans fat)
Partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs) are made by a process that turns vegetable oil into a solid fat. The FDA says they were once the main source of artificial trans fat in food.
- EU, restricted: trans fat other than the trans fat found naturally in animal fat may not exceed 2 g per 100 g of fat in food sold to consumers. Food that did not meet the limit could be sold until 1 April 2021. Regulation (EU) 2019/649.
- Canada, banned: PHOs are on Part 1 (Prohibitions) of the List of Contaminants and Other Adulterating Substances in Foods, for all foods. The listing was published on 17 September 2018. Health Canada.
- US, no longer allowed: in 2015 the FDA determined that PHOs no longer have GRAS status. For most uses, manufacturers could not add PHOs to foods after June 18, 2018. The final compliance date was January 1, 2021. Federal Register, 80 FR 34650; FDA.
Brominated vegetable oil (BVO)
Vegetable oil reacted with bromine. The FDA says it was used mainly to help emulsify citrus-flavoured soft drinks.
- EU, not authorised: BVO is not on the EU list of food additives. Regulation (EU) No 1129/2011.
- Canada, removed: Health Canada removed BVO from its permitted food additives on August 30, 2024. The transition period ended on August 30, 2025. Health Canada, M-FAA-24-08.
- US, authorization revoked: the FDA revoked the authorization for BVO in food. The rule took effect on August 2, 2024, with a compliance date one year later. Federal Register, 89 FR 55040.
Potassium bromate
A flour treatment agent. In the US it is added to “bromated flour” and used in malting barley for beer and spirits.
- EU, not authorised: potassium bromate (E 924) is not on the EU list of food additives. Regulation (EU) No 1129/2011.
- Canada, not permitted: a Government of Canada screening assessment states that since 1994 it is no longer permitted as a food additive in foods sold in Canada. It is not on Health Canada’s List of Permitted Flour Treatment Agents. Screening assessment; Health Canada list.
- US, permitted with limits: up to 50 parts per million in bromated flour (21 CFR 137.155), and up to 75 ppm of bromate in malt for beer and spirits (21 CFR 172.730).
Azodicarbonamide (E 927a)
A flour treatment agent, used in some bread and flour.
- EU, not authorised as a food additive: azodicarbonamide (E 927a) is not on the EU list of food additives, so it cannot be used in food. Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II.
- Canada, permitted with a limit: on Health Canada’s List of Permitted Flour Treatment Agents (item A.4), up to 45 ppm in bread, white flour and whole wheat flour. Health Canada.
- US, permitted with a limit: as a flour aging and bleaching agent and dough conditioner, up to 45 ppm of the flour. 21 CFR 172.806.
Titanium dioxide (E 171) in food
A white colour.
- EU, banned in food: the EU removed the authorisation to use E 171 in foods. Foods made under the old rules could be placed on the market until 7 August 2022. Regulation (EU) 2022/63.
- Canada, permitted: on Health Canada’s List of Permitted Food Colours for listed foods, at good manufacturing practice levels (item T.2). Health Canada.
- US, permitted with a limit: may colour foods generally, up to 1% of the food’s weight. 21 CFR 73.575.
Erythrosine (Red 3, E 127)
A synthetic dye. The FDA says it gives foods a bright cherry-red colour and is found in some candy, cakes, cookies, frozen desserts and frostings.
- EU, restricted: allowed only in cocktail cherries and candied cherries (up to 200 mg/kg) and in bigarreaux cherries in syrup and in cocktails (up to 150 mg/kg). Regulation (EU) No 1129/2011.
- Canada, permitted: on Health Canada’s List of Permitted Food Colours for listed foods (item E.1). Health Canada.
- US, banned in food from January 15, 2027: on January 16, 2025, the FDA revoked the authorization for Red No. 3 in food and ingested drugs. Food makers must comply by January 15, 2027, and ingested drugs by January 18, 2028. Federal Register, 90 FR 4628; FDA.
03 / LABELSColours with an EU warning label.
Since 20 July 2010, EU law requires extra wording on foods that contain six synthetic colours: sunset yellow (E 110), quinoline yellow (E 104), carmoisine (E 122), allura red (E 129), tartrazine (E 102) and ponceau 4R (E 124). The label must give the colour’s name or E number, followed by the words set in the regulation: “may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children.” Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Article 24 and Annex V.
Allura red (Red 40, E 129)
A synthetic red food colour.
- EU, warning label: see above. Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex V.
- Canada, permitted: on the List of Permitted Food Colours for listed foods (item A.2). Health Canada.
- US, permitted: may colour foods, and every batch must be certified by the FDA (21 CFR 74.340). In April 2025 the FDA said it was working with industry to remove it from the food supply by the end of 2026 (FDA). The authorization itself has not been revoked.
Tartrazine (Yellow 5, E 102)
A synthetic yellow food colour.
- EU, warning label: see above. Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex V.
- Canada, permitted: on the List of Permitted Food Colours for listed foods (item T.1). Health Canada.
- US, permitted, must be named: foods that contain it must list it as “FD&C Yellow No. 5” in the ingredients (21 CFR 74.705). It is also part of the FDA’s April 2025 phase-out request (FDA).
Sunset yellow FCF (Yellow 6, E 110)
A synthetic orange-yellow food colour.
- EU, warning label: see above. Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex V.
- Canada, permitted: on the List of Permitted Food Colours for listed foods (item S.6). Health Canada.
- US, permitted: may colour foods, and every batch must be certified by the FDA (21 CFR 74.706). It is also part of the FDA’s April 2025 phase-out request (FDA).
Quinoline yellow (E 104), carmoisine (E 122) and ponceau 4R (E 124)
Three more synthetic food colours with the same EU label rule.
- EU, warning label: see above. Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex V.
- Canada, not listed: none of the three is on Health Canada’s List of Permitted Food Colours. Health Canada.
- US, not listed: none of the three is on the FDA’s list of colour additives certified for food. 21 CFR part 74, subpart A.
04 / LIMITSTightened limits in food.
Nitrites and nitrates (E 249 to E 252)
Potassium nitrite, sodium nitrite, sodium nitrate and potassium nitrate. The EU says they are used as preservatives, mainly in meat, fish and cheese products.
- EU, limits lowered: the EU reduced the maximum amounts that may be added. For non-heat-treated meat products and most heat-treated meat products, the nitrite limit went from 150 mg/kg (expressed as sodium nitrite) to 80 mg/kg (expressed as nitrite ion) on 9 October 2025. The regulation also set maximum residual levels. Lower nitrate limits for some cheeses apply from 9 October 2026. Regulation (EU) 2023/2108.
- Canada, permitted with limits: sodium nitrite and sodium nitrate are on the List of Permitted Preservatives. In preserved meat, the amount added is generally capped at 200 ppm (items S.10 and S.11). Health Canada.
- US, permitted with limits: the FDA permits sodium nitrite and sodium nitrate in listed foods, such as smoked cured salmon, at up to 200 ppm of nitrite and 500 ppm of nitrate in the finished product. 21 CFR 172.175; 21 CFR 172.170.
05 / COSMETICSCosmetics.
Isopropyl-, isobutyl-, phenyl-, benzyl- and pentylparaben
Parabens are preservatives. The FDA says they are commonly used in cosmetics.
- EU, banned: these five parabens were added to the list of substances prohibited in cosmetics. From 30 October 2014, only compliant products could be placed on the EU market, and from 30 July 2015 only compliant products could be made available. Regulation (EU) No 358/2014.
- Canada, not on the Hotlist: no paraben is on Health Canada’s Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist. Health Canada.
- US, no specific rule: the FDA says it has no special rules that apply only to preservatives in cosmetics. FDA.
Propylparaben and butylparaben
Two common paraben preservatives, and their sodium and potassium salts.
- EU, limit lowered: before 2014 each paraben could be used up to 0.4%. The EU set a maximum of 0.14% for propylparaben and butylparaben combined. They may not be used in leave-on products designed for the nappy area of children under three, and leave-on products for children under three must say “Do not use on the nappy area”. This applies from 16 April 2015. Regulation (EU) No 1004/2014; Regulation (EU) No 358/2014, recital 5.
- Canada, not on the Hotlist: Health Canada.
- US, no specific rule: FDA.
Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)
A synthetic antioxidant. The EU says it is widely used in cosmetics. It is also used in some foods.
- EU, restricted in cosmetics: BHT was not regulated under the Cosmetics Regulation before. It is now limited to 0.001% in mouthwash, 0.1% in toothpaste and 0.8% in other leave-on and rinse-off products. Products that do not comply could not be placed on the market from 1 July 2023, or made available from 1 January 2024. Regulation (EU) 2022/2195.
- Canada, not on the Hotlist: BHT is not on the Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist (Health Canada). In food it is on the List of Permitted Preservatives for listed foods (item B.3) (Health Canada).
- US, permitted in listed foods: the FDA permits BHT in listed foods, with maximum amounts for each (21 CFR 172.115).
06 / SOURCESSources.
EU texts were read in the Official Journal versions from the EU Publications Office. Regulator pages were checked in November 2026.
- Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 on food additives: Article 4, Article 24 and Annex V.
- Commission Regulation (EU) No 1129/2011: the Union list of food additives (Annex II to Regulation 1333/2008).
- Commission Regulation (EU) 2019/649: trans fat limit.
- Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/63: titanium dioxide (E 171).
- Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/2108: nitrites and nitrates.
- Commission Regulation (EU) No 358/2014: parabens prohibited in cosmetics.
- Commission Regulation (EU) No 1004/2014: propylparaben and butylparaben.
- Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/2195: butylated hydroxytoluene in cosmetics.
- Health Canada: List of Contaminants and Other Adulterating Substances in Foods.
- Health Canada: List of Permitted Food Colours.
- Health Canada: List of Permitted Flour Treatment Agents.
- Health Canada: List of Permitted Preservatives.
- Health Canada: removal of brominated vegetable oil (M-FAA-24-08).
- Environment Canada and Health Canada: screening assessment for potassium bromate.
- Health Canada: Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist.
- FDA: Final Determination Regarding Partially Hydrogenated Oils (80 FR 34650).
- FDA: Trans Fat.
- FDA: Revocation of Authorization for Use of Brominated Vegetable Oil in Food (89 FR 55040).
- FDA: order revoking FD&C Red No. 3 in food and ingested drugs (90 FR 4628).
- FDA: FD&C Red No. 3.
- FDA: HHS, FDA to Phase Out Petroleum-Based Synthetic Dyes (April 22, 2025).
- 21 CFR part 74, subpart A: colour additives certified for food.
- 21 CFR 74.340, 74.705, 74.706: Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6.
- 21 CFR 73.575: titanium dioxide.
- 21 CFR 137.155 and 172.730: potassium bromate.
- 21 CFR 172.175 and 172.170: sodium nitrite and sodium nitrate.
- 21 CFR 172.115: BHT in food.
- FDA: Parabens in Cosmetics.
