LUBRICANT EYE DROPS

E numbers, short for Europe numbers, are codes for substances used asfood additives, including those found naturally in many foods, such asvitamin C, for use within theEuropean Union(EU)andEuropean Free Trade Association(EFTA).Commonly found onfood labels, their safety assessment and approval are the responsibility of theEuropean Food Safety Authority(EFSA).The fact that an additive has an E number implies that its use was at one time permitted in products for sale in theEuropean Single Market; some of these additives are no longer allowed today. Having a single unified list for food additives was first agreed upon in 1962 withfood colouring. In 1964, the directives for preservatives were added; In 1970 antioxidants were added; In 1974 emulsifiers, stabilisers, thickeners and gelling agents were added as well.