They are often added to foods, for example in order to prolong their shelf life or to intensify flavour. On the list of ingredients present on packaged foods, they can be identified by their E number. Additives are only authorised if their use has been deemed harmless by a health risk assessment conducted by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSAshort forEuropean Food Safety Authority). Since January 2025, the new European Union Reference Laboratory for Food Improvement Agents (EURL FIA), headquartered in Belgium, has been helping to monitor levels of additives in foods, for instance by improving methods of analysis.
