The category of additive (what it does) must be declared followed by the name of the additive and/or the E number of the additive. For example:

preservative: sorbic acid

preservative: E200

preservative: sorbic acid E200

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) website contains the list of approved additives and E numbers.

If the product includes several additives from the same category, the category only needs to be stated once and then each additive listed from that category.

Where the name of the additive is used rather than its E number, the name must be given in full and not abbreviated – for example, ‘monosodium glutamate’ rather than ‘MSG’.