Foods Containing E300 (Ascorbic Acid)
E300 (Ascorbic Acid) is simply vitamin C, used to stop food browning and protect flavour — completely safe, vegan and halal. Here's where you're most likely to find it on food labels.
Common foods that contain E300
E300 is used across oils, margarine, snacks, cured meats, soft drinks and processed foods. The foods where it appears most often include:
- Fruit juices
- Cured meats
- Bread and flour
- Frozen fruit
- Cereals
Exact usage varies by brand and recipe — the only way to know for certain whether a specific product contains E300 is to check its ingredients list, where it must be declared by law, either as "E300" or as "Ascorbic Acid".
How to spot E300 on a label
In the UK and EU, additives must appear in the ingredients list with their function and either their E-number or full name — for example "antioxidants: E300" or "antioxidants: ascorbic acid". In the US the E-number system isn't used, so look for the full name "Ascorbic Acid" instead.
Should you avoid foods containing E300?
E300 is considered safe. It is authorised across the EU, UK and US, and safety evaluations by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) have not identified health concerns at the levels used in food. For most people there is no reason to avoid E300.
Full guide to E300: safety, vegan and halal status →
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Additive data sourced from Open Food Facts (ODbL licence) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).