List of food additives

Purposes

Alphabetical index of food additives

0–9

• 1,4-heptonolactone – food acid *
• 2-hydroxybiphenyl – preservative

  A

• Abietic acid –
• Acacia vera –
• Acacia –
• Acesulfame potassium – artificial sweetener
• Acesulfame –
• Acetic acid – acidity regulator
• Acetic acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids – emulsifier
• Acetylated distarch adipate – thickener, vegetable gum
• Acetylated distarch phosphate – thickener, vegetable gum
• Acetylated oxidised starch – thickener, vegetable gum
• Acetylated starch – thickener, vegetable gum
• Acid treated starch – thickener, vegetable gum
• Adipic acid – food acid
• Agar – thickener, vegetable gum, stabilizer, gelling agent
• Alcohol –
• Alfalfa –
• Alginic acid – thickener, vegetable gum, stabilizer, gelling agent, emulsifier
• Alitame – artificial sweetener
• Alkaline treated starch – thickener, vegetable gum
• Alkanet – color
• Allspice –
• Allura red AC – color
• Almond oil – used as a substitute for olive oil. Also used as an emollient.
• Aluminium – color
• Aluminium ammonium sulfate – mineral salt
• Aluminium potassium sulfate – mineral salt
• Aluminium silicate – anti-caking agent
• Aluminium sodium sulfate – mineral salt
• Aluminium sulfate – mineral salt
• Amaranth – color Note that amaranth dye is unrelated to the amaranth plant
• Amaranth oil – high in squalene and unsaturated fatty acids – used in food and cosmetic industries.
• Amchur
• Ammonium acetate – preservative, acidity regulator
• Ammonium adipates – acidity regulator
• Ammonium alginate – thickener, vegetable gum, stabilizer, gelling agent, emulsifier
• Ammonium bicarbonate – mineral salt
• Ammonium carbonate – mineral salt
• Ammonium chloride – mineral salt
• Ammonium ferric citrate – food acid
• Ammonium fumarate – food acid
• Ammonium hydroxide – mineral salt
• Ammonium lactate – food acid
• Ammonium malate – food acid
• Ammonium phosphates – mineral salt
• Ammonium phosphatides – emulsifier
• Ammonium polyphosphates – anti-caking agent
• Ammonium sulfate – mineral salt, improving agent
• Amylases – flour treatment agent
• Angelica
• Anise –
• Annatto – color
• Anthocyanins – color
• Apricot oil – a cooking oil from certain cultivars.
• Arabinogalactan – thickener, vegetable gum
• Argan oil – a food oil from Morocco that has also attracted recent attention in Europe.
• Argon – propellant
• Rocket
• Asafoetida –
• Ascorbic acid – antioxidant
• Ascorbyl palmitate – antioxidant
• Ascorbyl stearate – antioxidant
• Aspartame – artificial sweetener
• Astaxanthin – color
• Avocado oil – used a substitute for olive oil. Also used in cosmetics and skin care products.
• Azodicarbonamide – flour bleaching agent. Also used in the production of foamed plastics and the manufacture of gaskets. Banned as a food additive in Australia and Europe.
• Azorubine – color

  B

• Babassu oil – similar to, and used as a substitute for coconut oil.
• Baking powder – leavening agent; includes acid and base
• Baking soda – food base
• Balm, lemon –
• Balm oil –
• Balsam of Peru – used in food and drink for flavoring
• Barberry –
• Barley flour –
• Basil –
• Basil extract –
• Bay leaves –
• Beeswax – glazing agent
• Beet red – color
• Beetroot red – color
• Ben oil – extracted from the seeds of the moringa oleifera. High in behenic acid. Extremely stable edible oil. Also suitable for biofuel.
• Bentonite – anti-caking agent
• Benzoic acid – preservative
• Benzoyl peroxide – flour treatment agent
• Berebere –
• Bergamot – in Earl Grey tea
• Beta-apo-8'-carotenal – color
• Beta-apo-8'-carotenic acid ethyl ester – color
• Betanin – color
• Biphenyl – preservative
• Bison grass
• Bixin – color
• Black 7984 – color
• Black cardamom –
• Black cumin –
• Blackcurrant seed oil – used as a food supplement, because of high content of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Also used in cosmetics.
• Black limes –
• Pepper –
• Black PN – color
• Bleached starch – thickener, vegetable gum
• Bolivian Coriander –
• Bone phosphate – anti-caking agent
• Borage –
• Borage seed oil – similar to blackcurrant seed oil – used primarily medicinally.
• Borax – preservative
• Boric acid – preservative
• Brilliant Black BN- color
• Brilliant blue FCF – color
• Brilliant Scarlet 4R – color
• Brominated vegetable oil – emulsifier, stabiliser
• Brown FK – color
• Bush tomato –
• Butane – propellant
• Butylated hydroxyanisole – antioxidant
• Butylated hydroxytoluene – antioxidant

  C

• Cacao shell –
• Cachou extract –
• Cactus root extract –
• Cadinene –
• Caffeine – stimulant
• Cajeput oil –
• Calamus –
• Calcium 5'-ribonucleotides – flavor enhancer
• Calcium acetate – preservative, acidity regulator
• Calcium alginate – thickener, vegetable gum, stabilizer, gelling agent, emulsifier
• Calcium ascorbate – antioxidant
• Calcium aluminosilicate – anti-caking agent
• Calcium ascorbate
• Calcium benzoate – preservative
• Calcium bisulfite – preservative, antioxidant
• Calcium carbonates – color, anticaking agent, stabiliser
• Calcium chloride – mineral salt
• Calcium citrates – food acid, firming agent
• Calcium diglutamate – flavor enhancer
• Calcium disodium EDTA – preservative
• Calcium ferrocyanide – anti-caking agent
• Calcium formate – preservative
• Calcium fumarate – food acid
• Calcium gluconate – acidity regulator
• Calcium guanylate – flavor enhancer
• Calcium hydrogen sulfite – preservative, antioxidant
• Calcium hydroxide – mineral salt
• Calcium inosinate – flavor enhancer
• Calcium lactate – food acid
• Calcium lactobionate – stabilizer
• Calcium malates – food acid
• Calcium oxide – mineral salt
• Calcium pantothenate
• Calcium peroxide –
• Calcium phosphates – mineral salt, anti-caking agent, firming agent
• Calcium polyphosphates – anti-caking agent
• Calcium propionate – preservative
• Calcium salts of fatty acids – emulsifier, stabiliser, anti-caking agent
• Calcium silicate – anti-caking agent
• Calcium sorbate – preservative
• Calcium stearoyl lactylate – emulsifier
• Calcium sulfate – flour treatment agent, mineral salt, sequestrant, improving agent, firming agent
• Calcium sulfite – preservative, antioxidant
• Calcium tartrate – food acid, emulsifier
• Camomile –
• Candelilla wax – glazing agent
• Candle nut –
• Canola oil/Rapeseed oil, one of the most widely used cooking oils, from a cultivar of rapeseed.
• Canthaxanthin – color
• Caper
• Capsanthin – color
• Capsorubin – color
• Carrageenan – A family of linear sulphated polysaccharides extracted from red seaweeds.
• Caramel I – color
• Caramel II – color
• Caramel III – color
• Caramel IV – color
• Caraway –
• Carbamide – flour treatment agent
• Carbon black – color
• Carbon dioxide – acidity regulator, propellant
• Cardamom –
• carmines – color
• Carmoisine – color
• Carnauba wax – glazing agent
• Carob pod –
• Carob pod oil/Algaroba oil, used medicinally.
• Carotenes – color
• * Alpha-carotene – color
• * Beta-carotene – color
• * Gamma-carotene – color
• Carrageenan – thickener, vegetable gum, stabilizer, gelling agent, emulsifier
• Carrot oil –
• Cashew oil – somewhat comparable to olive oil. May have value for fighting dental cavities.
• Cassia –
• Catechu extract –
• Celery salt –
• Celery seed –
• Wheat germ oil – used as a food supplement, and for its "grainy" flavor. Also used medicinally. Highly unstable.
• Chalk – color, anticaking agent, stabiliser
• Chervil –
• Chicory –
• Chicory Root Extract – High in Inulin
• Chile pepper –
• Chili powder –
• Chives –
• Chlorine dioxide – flour treatment agent
• Chlorine – flour treatment agent
• Chlorophylls and Chlorophyllins – color
• Chocolate Brown HT – color
• Choline salts and esters – emulsifier
• Chrysoine resorcinol – color
• Cicely
• Sweet cicely
• Cilantro
• Cinnamon –
• Cinnamon oil – used for flavoring.
• Citranaxanthin – color
• Citric acid – food acid
• Citric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids – emulsifier
• Citrus red 2 – color
• Cloves –
• Cochineal – color
• Coconut oil – a cooking oil, high in saturated fat – particularly used in baking and cosmetics.
• Sage –
• Copper complexes of chlorophylls – color
• Coriander –
• Coriander seed oil – used medicinally. Also used as a flavoring agent in pharmaceutical and food industries.
• Corn oil – one of the most common, and inexpensive cooking oils.
• Corn syrup –
• Cottonseed oil – a major food oil, often used in industrial food processing.
• Cress –
• Crocetin – color
• Crocin – color
• Crosslinked Sodium carboxymethylcellulose – emulsifier
• Cryptoxanthin – color
• Cumin –
• Cumin oil/Black seed oil – used as a flavor, particularly in meat products. Also used in veterinary medicine.
• Cupric sulfate – mineral salt
• Curcumin – color
• Curry powder –
• Curry leaf –
• Cyanocobalamin –
• Cyclamates – artificial sweetener
• Cyclamic acid – artificial sweetener
• beta-cyclodextrin – emulsifier
• Lemongrass –

  D

• Damiana –
• Dandelion leaf –
• Dandelion Root –
• Dandelion –
• –
• Decanal –
• Decanoic acid –
• Dehydroacetic acid – preservative
• Delta-tocopherol – antioxidant
• Devil's claw medicinal
• Dextrin roasted starch – thickener, vegetable gum
• Diacetyltartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids – emulsifier
• Dicalcium diphosphate – anti-caking agent
• – antioxidant
• Dill seed –
• Dill –
• Dimethyl dicarbonate – preservative
• Dimethylpolysiloxane – emulsifier, anti-caking agent
• Dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate – emulsifier
• Diphenyl – preservative
• Diphosphates – mineral salt, emulsifier
• Dipotassium guanylate – flavor enhancer
• – flavor enhancer
• Disodium 5'-ribonucleotides – flavor enhancer
• Disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate – antioxidant, preservative
• Disodium guanylate – flavor enhancer
• Disodium inosinate – flavor enhancer
• Distarch phosphate – thickener, vegetable gum
• – antioxidant
• Dl-alpha-tocopherol – antioxidant
• Dodecyl gallate – antioxidant

  E

• Echinacea –
• EDTA – Antioxidant, Chelating Agent
• Egg –
• Egg yolk –
• Egg white –
• Elderberry –
• Eleutherococcus senticosus –
• Enzymatically hydrolyzed Carboxymethyl cellulose – emulsifier
• Enzyme treated starch – thickener, vegetable gum
• Epazote
• Epsom salts – mineral salt, acidity regulator, firming agent
• Erythorbin acid – antioxidant
• Erythrosine – color
• Erythritol – sweetener
• Ethanol –
• Ethyl maltol – flavor enhancer
• Ethyl methyl cellulose – thickener, vegetable gum, emulsifier
• Ethylparaben – preservative
• Ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid –
• Evening primrose oil – used as a food supplement for its purported medicinal properties.

  F

• False flax oil – made of the seeds of Camelina sativa. Can be considered as a food or fuel oil.
• Fantesk –
• Farnesol –
• Fast green FCF – color
• Fat –
• Flavoxanthin – color
• Fennel
• Fenugreek –
• Ferric ammonium citrate – food acid
• Ferrous gluconate – color retention agent
• Ferrous lactate –
• Filé powder –
• Five-spice powder –
• Fo-ti-tieng –
• Formaldehyde – preservative
• Formic acid – preservative
• Fructose –
• Fumaric acid – acidity regulator

  G

• Galangal –
• Galangal root –
• Galbanum oil –
• Gallic acid –
• Gamma-tocopherol – antioxidant
• Garam masala –
• Garlic extract –
• Garlic –
• Garlic oil –
• Gelatin/gelatine – Gelling agent, emulsifier
• Gellan gum – thickener, vegetable gum, stabilizer, emulsifier
• Ginger –
• Ginger oil –
• Ginger root –
• Ginseng –
• Glacial Acetic acid – preservative, acidity regulator
• Glucitol –
• Gluconate –
• Glucono delta-lactone – acidity regulator
• Glucose oxidase – antioxidant
• Glucose syrup – sweetener
• Glutamate –
• Glutamic acid – flavor enhancer
• Gluten –
• Glycerin – humectant, sweetener
• Glycerol –
• Glycerol ester of wood rosin – emulsifier
• Glyceryl distearate – emulsifier
• Glyceryl monostearate – emulsifier
• Glycine – flavor enhancer
• Glyoxylic acid –
• Gold – color
• Grains of paradise –
• Grape color extract –
• Grape seed oil – suitable for cooking at high temperatures. Also used as a salad oil, and in cosmetics.
• Green S – color
• Green tea –
• Guanylic acid – flavor enhancer
• Guar gum – thickener, vegetable gum, stabilizer
• Guaranine –
• Gum arabic / Gum acacia / E414 – thickener, vegetable gum, stabilizer, emulsifier
• Gum guaicum – preservative

  H

• Haw bark –
• Hazelnut oil – used for its flavor. Also used in skin care, because of its slight astringent nature.
• Heliotropin –
• Helium – propellant
• Hemlock oil –
• Hemp oil – a high quality food oil.
• Heptyl p-hydroxybenzoate – preservative
• Hesperidin –
• Hexamine – preservative
• Hexyl acetate –
• High fructose corn syrup –
• Horseradish –
• Hydrochloric acid – acidity regulator
• Hydroxypropyl cellulose – thickener, vegetable gum, emulsifier
• Hydroxypropyl distarch phosphate – thickener, vegetable gum
• Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose – thickener, vegetable gum, emulsifier
• Hydroxypropyl starch – thickener, vegetable gum
• Hyssop –

  I

• Indanthrene blue RS – color
• Indigo carmine – color
• Indigotine – color
• Indole –
• Inosinate –
• Inosinic acid – flavor enhancer
• Inositol –
• Insoluble fiber –
• Intense sweeteners –
• Inulin
• Invert sugar –
• Invertase –
• Iron ammonium citrate –
• Iron –
• Iron oxides and hydroxides – color
• Isobutane – propellant
• Isomalt – humectant
• Isopropyl citrates – antioxidant, preservative

  J

• Jasmine –
• Jamaican jerk spice –
• Jasmine absolute –
• Jiaogulan –
• Juniper –
• Juniper berry –
• Juniper berry oil – used as a flavor. Also used medicinally, including traditional medicine.
• Juniper extract –

  K

• Kaffir Lime Leaves –
• Kaolin – anti-caking agent
• Kapok seed oil – used as an edible oil, and in soap production.
• Karaya gum – thickener, vegetable gum, stabilizer, emulsifier
• Kelp –
• Kokam –
• Kola nut extract –
• Konjac – thickener, vegetable gum
• Konjac glucomannate – thickener, vegetable gum
• Konjac gum – thickener, vegetable gum

  L

• L-cysteine – flour treatment agent
• Lactic acid – acidity regulator, preservative, antioxidant
• Lactic acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids – emulsifier
• Lactitol – humectant
• Lactose –
• Lactylated fatty acid esters of glycerol and propylene glycol – emulsifier
• Larch gum –
• Lard –
• Latolrubine – color
• Laurel berry –
• Laurel leaf oil –
• Lavender
• Lavender oil –
• Lecithins – antioxidant, Emulsifier
• Lecithin citrate – preservative
• Lemon –
• Lemon balm –
• Lemon extract –
• Lemon juice –
• Lemon Myrtle –
• Lemon oil –
• Lemon verbena –
• Lemongrass Oil –
• Leucine – flavor enhancer
• Licorice –
• Lipases – flavor enhancer
• Lithol Rubine BK – color
• Litholrubine – color
• Locust bean gum – thickener, vegetable gum, stabilizer, gelling agent, emulsifier
• Long pepper –
• Lovage –
• L-Tartaric acid – food acid
• Lutein – color
• Lycopene – color
• Lysine –
• Lysozyme – preservative

  M

• Macadamia oil – used as an edible oil. Also used as a massage oil.
• Mace –
• Magnesium –
• Magnesium carbonate – anti-caking agent, mineral salt
• Magnesium chloride – mineral salt
• Magnesium citrate – acidity regulator
• Magnesium diglutamate – flavor enhancer
• Magnesium hydroxide – mineral salt
• Magnesium lactate – food acid
• Magnesium oxide – anti-caking agent
• Magnesium phosphates – mineral salt, anti-caking agent
• Magnesium salts of fatty acids – emulsifier, stabiliser, anti-caking agent
• Magnesium silicate – anti-caking agent
• Magnesium stearate – emulsifier, stabiliser
• Magnesium sulfate – mineral salt, acidity regulator, firming agent
• Mahleb –
• Malabathrum –
• Malic acid – acidity regulator
• Malt extract – flavor enhancer
• Maltitol – humectant, stabiliser
• Maltodextrin – carbohydrate sweetener
• Maltol – flavor enhancer
• Maltose –
• Mandarin oil-leavening agent
• Manganese –
• Mannitol – humectant, anti-caking agent, sweetener
• Margarine –
• Marjoram
• Mastic –
• Meadowfoam seed oil – highly stable oil, with over 98% long-chain fatty acids. Competes with rapeseed oil for industrial applications.
• Mega-purple – a Kosher food additive made from grapes
• Mentha arvensis oil/Mint oil, used in flavoring toothpastes, mouthwashes and pharmaceuticals, as well as in aromatherapy and other medicinal applications.
• Metatartaric acid – food acid, emulsifier
• Methionine –
• Methyl butyrate –
• Methyl disulfide –
• Methyl ethyl cellulose – thickener, vegetable gum, emulsifier
• Methyl hexenoate –
• Methyl isobutyrate –
• Methylcellulose – thickener, emulsifier, vegetable gum
• Methylparaben – preservative
• Methyltheobromine –
• Microcrystalline cellulose – anti-caking agent
• Milk thistle –
• Milk –
• Mint –
• Mixed acetic and tartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids – emulsifier
• Modified starch –
• Molasses extract –
• Molybdenum –
• Bergamot –
• Mono- and diglycerides of Fatty acids – emulsifier
• Monoammonium glutamate – flavor enhancer
• Monopotassium glutamate – flavor enhancer
• Monosodium glutamate – flavor enhancer
• Monostarch phosphate – thickener, vegetable gum
• Montanic acid esters – humectant
• Mullein
• Mustard –
• Mustard oil, containing a high percentage of allyl isothiocyanate or other isothiocyanates, depending on the species of mustard
• Mustard oil – used in India as a cooking oil. Also used as a massage oil.
• Mustard plant –
• Mustard seed –

  N

• Natamycin – preservative
• Neohesperidin dihydrochalcone – artificial sweetener
• Niacin – color retention agent
• * nicotinic acid – color retention agent
• * Nicotinamide – color retention agent
• Nigella –
• Nisin – preservative
• Nitrogen – propellant
• Nitrous oxide – propellant
• Norbixin – color
• Nutmeg –

  O

• Octyl gallate – antioxidant
• Evening primrose –
• Okra oil – from the seed of the Hibiscus esculentus. Composed predominantly of oleic and lanoleic acids.
• Oleomargarine –
• Olive oil – used in cooking – cosmetics – soaps and as a fuel for traditional oil lamps
• Orange GGN – color
• Orange oil – like lemon oil – cold pressed rather than distilled. Consists of 90% d-Limonene. Used as a fragrance, in cleaning products and in flavoring foods.
• Orcein – color
• Orchil – color
• Oregano –
• Oregano oil – contains thymol and carvacrol
• Orris root –
• Orthophenyl phenol – preservative
• Oxidised polyethylene wax – humectant
• Oxidised starch – thickener, vegetable gum
• Oxystearin – antioxidant, sequestrant

  P

• Palm oil – the most widely produced tropical oil. Also used to make biofuel.
• Panax ginseng –
• Panax quinquefolius –
• Ponch phoran –
• Pandan leaf –
• Pantothenic acid –
• Papain – A cysteine protease hydrolase enzyme present in papaya and mountain papaya.
• Paprika red
• Paprika –
• Paprika extract –
• Paraffins – glazing agent
• Parsley –
• Patent blue V – color
• Peanut oil/Ground nut oil – mild-flavored cooking oil.
• Pecan oil – valued as a food oil, but requiring fresh pecans for good quality oil.
• Pectin – vegetable gum, emulsifier
• Perilla seed oil – high in omega-3 fatty acids. Used as an edible oil, for medicinal purposes, in skin care products and as a drying oil.
• Phosphated distarch phosphate – thickener, vegetable gum
• Phosphoric acid – food acid
• Phytic acid – preservative
• Pigment Rubine – color
• Pimaricin – preservative
• Pine needle oil
• Pine seed oil – an expensive food oil, used in salads and as a condiment.
• Pistachio oil – strongly flavored oil, particularly for use in salads.
• Prune kernel oil – marketed as a gourmet cooking oil
• Poly vinyl pyrrolidone –
• Polydextrose – humectant
• Polyethylene glycol 8000 – antifoaming agent
• Polyglycerol esters of fatty acids – emulsifier
• Polyglycerol polyricinoleate – emulsifier
• Polymethylsiloxane – antifoaming agent
• Polyoxyethylene stearate – emulsifier
• Polyoxyethylene stearate – emulsifier, stabilizer
• Polyphosphates – mineral salt, emulsifier
• Polysorbate 20 – emulsifier
• Polysorbate 40 – emulsifier
• Polysorbate 60 – emulsifier
• Polysorbate 65 – emulsifier
• Polysorbate 80 – emulsifier
• Polyvinylpolypyrrolidone – color stabiliser
• Pomegranate seeds
• Ponceau 4R – color
• Ponceau 6R – color
• Ponceau SX – color
• Poppy seed –
• Poppyseed oil – used for cooking, moisturizing skin, and in paints, varnishes and soaps.
• Potassium acetates – preservative, acidity regulator
• Potassium adipate – food acid
• Potassium alginate – thickener, vegetable gum, stabilizer, gelling agent, emulsifier
• Potassium aluminium silicate – anti-caking agent
• Potassium ascorbate – antioxidant
• Potassium benzoate – preservative
• Potassium bicarbonate – mineral salt
• Potassium bisulfite – preservative, antioxidant
• Potassium bromate – flour treatment agent
• Potassium carbonate – mineral salt
• Potassium chloride – mineral salt
• Potassium citrates – food acid
• Potassium ferrocyanide – anti-caking agent
• Potassium fumarate – food acid
• Potassium gluconate – stabiliser
• Potassium hydrogen sulfite – preservative, antioxidant
• Potassium hydroxide – mineral salt
• Potassium lactate – food acid
• Potassium malate – food acid
• Potassium metabisulfite – preservative, antioxidant
• Potassium nitrate – preservative, color fixative
• Potassium nitrite – preservative, color fixative
• Potassium phosphates – mineral salt
• Potassium propionate – preservative
• Potassium salts of fatty acids – emulsifier, stabiliser, anti-caking agent
• Potassium sodium tartrate – food acid
• Potassium sorbate – preservative
• Potassium sulfate – mineral salt, seasoning
• Potassium sulfite – preservative, antioxidant
• Potassium tartrates – food acid
• Powdered Cellulose – anti-caking agent
• Primrose — candied flowers, tea
• Processed Eucheuma seaweed – thickener, vegetable gum, stabilizer, gelling agent, emulsifier
• Propane-1,2-diol alginate – thickener, vegetable gum, stabilizer, emulsifier
• Propionic acid – preservative
• Propyl gallate – antioxidant
• Propylene glycol – humectant
• Propylene glycol alginate – thickener, vegetable gum, stabilizer, emulsifier
• Propylene glycol esters of fatty acids – emulsifier
• Propylparaben – preservative
• Pumpkin seed oil – a specialty cooking oil, produced in Austria and Slovenia. Doesn't tolerate high temperatures.
• Pulegone
• Purslane –
• Pyridoxine hydrochloride –

  Q

• Quatre épices –
• Quillaia extract – humectant
• Quinoa oil – similar in composition and use to corn oil
• Quinoline Yellow WS – color

  R

• Ramtil oil – pressed from the seeds of the one of several species of genus Guizotia abyssinica in India and Ethiopia. Used for both cooking and lighting.
• Ras-el hanout
• Raspberry
• Red 2G – color
• Refined microcrystalline wax – glazing agent
• Rhodoxanthin – color
• Riboflavin – color
• Rice bran oil – suitable for high temperature cooking. Widely used in Asia.
• Rosemary –
• Rubixanthin – color

  S

• Saccharin – artificial sweetener
• Safflower oil – a flavorless and colorless cooking oil.
• Safflower –
• Saffron – color
• Saigon Cinnamon –
• Salad Burnet
• Salt –
• Sandalwood – color
• Savory
• Scarlet GN – color
• Sesame oil – used as a cooking oil, and as a massage oil, particularly in India.
• Sesame seed –
• Shellac – glazing agent
• Silicon dioxide – anti-caking agent
• Silver – color
• Luohanguo
• Sodium acetate – preservative, acidity regulator
• Sodium adipate – food acid
• Sodium alginate – thickener, vegetable gum, stabilizer, gelling agent, emulsifier
• Sodium aluminium phosphate – acidity regulator, emulsifier
• Sodium aluminosilicate – anti-caking agent
• Sodium ascorbate – antioxidant
• Sodium benzoate – preservative
• Sodium bicarbonate – mineral salt
• Sodium bisulfite – preservative, antioxidant
• Sodium carbonate – mineral salt
• Sodium carboxymethylcellulose – emulsifier
• Sodium citrates – food acid
• Sodium dehydroacetate – preservative
• Sodium erythorbate – antioxidant
• Sodium erythorbin – antioxidant
• Sodium ethyl para-hydroxybenzoate – preservative
• Sodium ferrocyanide – anti-caking agent
• Sodium formate – preservative
• Sodium fumarate – food acid
• Sodium gluconate – stabiliser
• Sodium hydrogen acetate – preservative, acidity regulator
• Sodium hydroxide – mineral salt
• Sodium lactate – food acid
• Sodium malates – food acid
• Sodium metabisulfite – preservative, antioxidant, bleaching agent
• Sodium methyl para-hydroxybenzoate – preservative
• Sodium nitrate – preservative, color fixative
• Sodium nitrite – preservative, color fixative
• Sodium orthophenyl phenol – preservative
• Sodium propionate – preservative
• Sodium propyl para-hydroxybenzoate – preservative
• Sodium sorbate – preservative
• Sodium stearoyl lactylate – emulsifier
• Sodium succinates – acidity regulator, flavor enhancer
• Sodium salts of fatty acids – emulsifier, stabiliser, anti-caking agent
• Sodium sulfite – mineral salt, preservative, antioxidant
• Sodium sulfite – preservative, antioxidant
• Sodium tartrates – food acid
• Sodium tetraborate – preservative
• Sorbic acid – preservative
• Sorbitan monolaurate – emulsifier
• Sorbitan monooleate – emulsifier
• Sorbitan monopalmitate – emulsifier
• Sorbitan monostearate – emulsifier
• Sorbitan tristearate – emulsifier
• Sorbitol – humectant, emulsifier, sweetener
• Sorbol –
• Sorrel –
• Soybean oil – accounts for about half of worldwide edible oil production.
• Spearmint oil – often used in flavoring mouthwash and chewing gum, among other applications.
• Star anise –
• Star anise oil – highly fragrant oil using in cooking. Also used in perfumery and soaps, has been used in toothpastes, mouthwashes, and skin creams. 90% of the world's star anise crop is used in the manufacture of Tamiflu, a drug used to treat avian flu.
• Starch sodium octenylsuccinate – thickener, vegetable gum
• Stearic acid – anti-caking agent
• Stearyl tartarate – emulsifier
• Succinic acid – food acid
• Sucralose – artificial sweetener
• Sucroglycerides – emulsifier
• Sucrose acetate isobutyrate – emulsifier, stabiliser
• Sucrose esters of fatty acids – emulsifier
• Sugar –
• Sulfur dioxide – preservative, antioxidant
• Sulfuric acid – acidity regulator
• Sumac –
• Sunflower oil – a common cooking oil, also used to make biodiesel.
• Sunset Yellow FCF – color
• Sweet basil –
• Sweet woodruff –
• Szechuan pepper –

  T

• Talc – anti-caking agent
• Tamarind –
• Tanacetum balsamita / Costmary –
• Tandoori masala –
• Tannins – color, emulsifier, stabiliser, thickener
• Tansy –
• Tara gum – thickener, vegetable gum, stabilizer
• Tarragon –
• Tartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids – emulsifier
• Tartrazine – color
• Camellia oil/Tea oil, widely used in southern China as a cooking oil. Also used in making soaps, hair oils and a variety of other products.
• Tert-butylhydroquinone – antioxidant
• Tetrahydrocannabinol- flavor enhancer, potent anti-carcinogen
• Thaumatin – flavor enhancer, artificial sweetener
• Theine –
• Thermally oxidised soya bean oil – emulsifier
• Thiabendazole – preservative
• Thiamine –
• Thiodipropionic acid – antioxidant
• Thyme –
• stannous chloride – color retention agent, antioxidant
• Titanium dioxide – color
• Tocopherol –
• Tocopherol concentrate – antioxidant
• Tragacanth – thickener, vegetable gum, stabilizer, emulsifier
• Triacetin – humectant
• Triammonium citrate – food acid
• Triethyl citrate – thickener, vegetable gum
• Trimethylxanthine –
• Triphosphates – mineral salt, emulsifier
• Trisodium phosphate – mineral salt, antioxidant
• Turmeric – color

  V

• Vanilla –
• Vegetable carbon – color
• Vinegar –
• Violaxanthin – color
• Vitamin –
• * Vitamin A –
• * Vitamin B₁ –
• * Vitamin B₂ –
• * Vitamin B₅ –
• * Vitamin B₆ –
• * Vitamin B₁₂ –
• * Vitamin C –
• * Vitamin D –
• * Vitamin E –
• * Vitamin K –

  W

• Walnut oil – used for its flavor, also used by Renaissance painters in oil paints
• Wasabi –
• Water –
• Wattleseed –

  X

• Xanthan gum – thickener, vegetable gum, stabilizer
• Xylitol – humectant, stabiliser

  Y

• Yellow 2G – color
• Yucca extract –

  Z

• Zeaxanthin – color
• Zinc acetate – flavor enhancer