Guides

Short answers to the questions people ask at the shelf. Each guide cites primary sources and shows its review date.

• How to read an ingredient label

  How EU ingredient lists work for food and cosmetics: order by weight, E-numbers, allergen emphasis, INCI names and where labels hide information.

• The 14 EU allergens on labels

  The 14 allergens that EU law requires on food labels, how they must be highlighted, the sulphite threshold and what is not covered.

• What "may contain" means

  Precautionary allergen labelling such as "may contain traces of" is voluntary in the EU and has no legal threshold. Here is what it does and does not tell you.

• E-numbers explained

  What an E-number is, how the number ranges map to additive types, how the EU approves additives and what EFSA re-evaluation means.

• Food colours and children

  Six food colours carry an EU warning about activity and attention in children. Why the warning exists, what EFSA concluded and how to find these colours on labels.

• Nitrites in cured meat

  Why cured meats contain nitrite and nitrate, what EFSA and IARC concluded, and what the label tells you. Includes celery-based nitrite.

• Fragrance allergens in cosmetics

  The EU now requires 82 fragrance allergens to be named on cosmetic labels. What changed in 2026, the thresholds, and why "Parfum" on a baby product needs a closer look.

• Human foods that are risky for dogs and cats

  Xylitol, chocolate, grapes, onions, garlic, macadamia nuts and alcohol can harm dogs and cats. What each does, where sources disagree and what to do after your pet eats one.

The assessment is for information only. It does not replace the manufacturer's label or advice from a doctor or vet. Text recognition (OCR) can miss part of a label. No result does not mean the product is safe.