Foods Containing E942 (Nitrous Oxide)
E942 (Nitrous Oxide) is a gas produced synthetically, used as a packaging gases & propellant to help protect packaged food from spoilage or propel it from containers. Here's where you're most likely to find it on food labels.
Common foods that contain E942
E942 is used across bagged salads, crisps, fizzy drinks, squirty cream and modified-atmosphere packs. The foods where it appears most often include:
- Bagged salads
- Crisps
- Fizzy drinks
- Squirty cream and modified-atmosphere packs
Exact usage varies by brand and recipe — the only way to know for certain whether a specific product contains E942 is to check its ingredients list, where it must be declared by law, either as "E942" or as "Nitrous Oxide".
How to spot E942 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 "packaging gases and propellants: E942" or "packaging gases and propellants: nitrous oxide". In the US the E-number system isn't used, so look for the full name "Nitrous Oxide" instead.
Should you avoid foods containing E942?
E942 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 E942.
Full guide to E942: 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).