Foods Containing E650 (Zinc Acetate)
E650 (Zinc Acetate) is a synthetic zinc salt, used as a flavour enhancer to help boost the existing savoury flavour of foods. Here's where you're most likely to find it on food labels.
Common foods that contain E650
E650 is used across crisps, instant noodles, soups, stock cubes, savoury snacks and ready meals. The foods where it appears most often include:
- Crisps
- Instant noodles
- Soups
- Stock cubes
- Savoury snacks and ready meals
Exact usage varies by brand and recipe — the only way to know for certain whether a specific product contains E650 is to check its ingredients list, where it must be declared by law, either as "E650" or as "Zinc Acetate".
How to spot E650 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 "flavour enhancers: E650" or "flavour enhancers: zinc acetate". In the US the E-number system isn't used, so look for the full name "Zinc Acetate" instead.
Should you avoid foods containing E650?
E650 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 E650.
Full guide to E650: 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).