1.7.6 Cheese products (excluding products falling in category 16)

EU food category, from Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II, Part D.

Under Annex II, an additive may be used only in the foods and under the conditions listed for them. This page shows what is listed for this category. It does not infer anything from broader categories: where Annex II extends a broader category's provisions to its subcategories, it says so in that category's own listing. See the broader category 1.7.

Listed for this category

Additive	Maximum level	Conditions	Citation
Annatto extracts, norbixin-based E160b(ii)	8 mg/kg	only ripened orange, yellow and broken-white products’.	Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II, as amended by (EU) No 2020/0771
Anthocyanins E163	quantum satis	only red marbled products.	Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II, as amended by (EU) No 1129/2011
Beta -carotene E160a	quantum satis	Authorised under E 160a, Carotenes. only ripened orange, yellow and broken-white products.	Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II, as amended by (EU) No 1129/2011, under E 160a, Carotenes
beta-Carotenes, Blakeslea trispora INS 160a(iii)	quantum satis	Authorised under E 160a, Carotenes. only ripened orange, yellow and broken-white products.	Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II, as amended by (EU) No 1129/2011, under E 160a, Carotenes
beta-Carotenes, vegetable INS 160a(ii)	quantum satis	Authorised under E 160a, Carotenes. only ripened orange, yellow and broken-white products.	Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II, as amended by (EU) No 1129/2011, under E 160a, Carotenes
Calcium carbonate E170	quantum satis	only ripened products.	Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II, as amended by (EU) No 1129/2011
Calcium chloride E509	quantum satis	only ripened products.	Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II, as amended by (EU) No 1129/2011
Carmines E120	125 mg/kg	only red marbled products.	Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II, as amended by (EU) No 1129/2011
Glucono delta-lactone E575	quantum satis	only ripened products; unripened soft spreadable cheese products’.	Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II, as amended by (EU) No 1129/2011
Lysozyme E1105	quantum satis	only ripened products.	Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II, as amended by (EU) No 1129/2011
Magnesium carbonate E504	quantum satis	Authorised under E 504, Magnesium carbonates. only ripened products.	Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II, as amended by (EU) No 1129/2011, under E 504, Magnesium carbonates
Magnesium hydroxide carbonate INS 504(ii)	quantum satis	Authorised under E 504, Magnesium carbonates. only ripened products.	Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II, as amended by (EU) No 1129/2011, under E 504, Magnesium carbonates
Natamycin (pimaricin) E235	1 mg/dm²	surface (not present at a depth of 5 mm). Only for the external treatment of uncut hard, semi-hard and semi-soft cheese.	Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II, as amended by (EU) No 2015/0647
Nisin preparation E234	12.5 mg/kg	only ripened and processed products. Note 29: This substance may be present naturally in certain cheeses as a result of fermentation processes.	Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II, as amended by (EU) No 1129/2011
Paprika extract INS 160c(ii)	quantum satis	Authorised under E 160c, Paprika extract, capsanthin, capsorubin. only ripened orange, yellow and broken-white products.	Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II, as amended by (EU) No 1129/2011, under E 160c, Paprika extract, capsanthin, capsorubin
Paprika extract, capsanthin, capsorubin E160c	quantum satis	Authorised under E 160c, Paprika extract, capsanthin, capsorubin. only ripened orange, yellow and broken-white products.	Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II, as amended by (EU) No 1129/2011, under E 160c, Paprika extract, capsanthin, capsorubin
Powdered cellulose E460	quantum satis	only grated and sliced ripened and unripened products; unripened soft spreadable cheese products’.	Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II
β-Carotene-rich extract from Dunaliella Salina INS 160a(iv)	quantum satis	Authorised under E 160a, Carotenes. only ripened orange, yellow and broken-white products.	Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II, as amended by (EU) No 1129/2011, under E 160a, Carotenes

Permitted as members of an additive group

Annex II authorises some additives collectively. Each group below shares one set of conditions for this category.

Group I, Additives — 162 additivesML = quantum satis; except E 425 ML = 10000 mg/kg; E 620 to E 625, ML = 10000 mg/kg individually or in combination, expressed as glutamic acid; E 626 to E 635, ML = 500 mg/kg individually or in combination, expressed as guanylic acid.

Acetic acid E260
Acetic and fatty acid esters of glycerol E472a
Acetylated distarch adipate E1422
Acetylated distarch phosphate E1414
Acetylated oxidized starch E1451
Agar E406
Alginic acid E400
Alpha-tocopherol E307
Ammonium alginate E403
Ammonium bicarbonate
Ammonium carbonate
Ammonium carbonates E503
Ammonium hydroxide E527
Argon E938
Ascorbic acid E300
Ascorbyl palmitate E304
Ascorbyl stearate E304(ii)
Buffered vinegar E267
Calcium 5'-guanylate E629
Calcium 5'-inosinate E633
Calcium 5'-ribonucleotides E634
Calcium acetate E263
Calcium alginate E404
Calcium ascorbate E302
Calcium carbonate E170
Calcium chloride E509
Calcium citrate E333
Calcium di-L-glutamate E623
Calcium gluconate E578
Calcium hydroxide E526
Calcium lactate E327
Calcium malate, D, L-
Calcium malates E352
Calcium oxide E529
Calcium sulfate E516
Carbon dioxide E290
Carob bean gum E410
Carrageenan E407
Citric acid E330
Citric and fatty acid esters of glycerol E472c
Delta-tocopherol E309
Diacetyltartaric and fatty acid esters of glycerol E472e
Dicalcium citrate E333(ii)
Dipotassium 5'-guanylate E628
Disodium 5'-ribonucleotides E635
Disodium citrate E331(ii)
Disodium guanylate E627
Disodium inosinate E631
Distarch phosphate E1412
Erythritol E968
Ethyl cellulose E462
Fatty acids E570
Gamma-tocopherol E308
Gellan gum E418
Gluconic acid E574
Glucono delta-lactone E575
Glutamic acid E620
Glycerin E422
Glycine E640
Guanylic acid, 5'- E626
Guar gum E412
Gum arabic (Acacia gum) E414
Gum tragacanth E413
Helium E939
Hydrochloric acid E507
Hydrogen E949
Hydroxypropyl cellulose E463
Hydroxypropyl distarch phosphate E1442
Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose E464
Hydroxypropyl starch E1440
Inosinic acid, 5'- E630
Invertase E1103
Isomalt (Hydrogenated isomaltulose) E953
Konjac flour E425
L-Cysteine E920
Lactic acid E270
Lactic and fatty acid esters of glycerol E472b
Lactitol E966
Lecithin E322
Lecithin, partially hydrolysed
Magnesium carbonate E504
Magnesium chloride E511
Magnesium di-L-glutamate E625
Magnesium hydroxide E528
Magnesium hydroxide carbonate
Magnesium oxide E530
Magnesium salts of fatty acids E470b
Malic acid E296
Maltitol
Maltitol syrup E965
Mannitol E421
Mannitol manufactured by fermentation E421(ii)
Methyl cellulose E461
Methyl ethyl cellulose E465
Microcrystalline cellulose (Cellulose gel) E460(i)
Mixed acetic and tartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids E472f
Mono- and di-glycerides of fatty acids E471
Monoammonium glutamate E624
Monocalcium citrate E333(i)
Monopotassium glutamate E622
Monosodium L-glutamate E621
Monostarch phosphate E1410
Nitrogen E941
Nitrous oxide E942
Oxidized starch E1404
Oxygen E948
Pectins E440
Phosphated distarch phosphate E1413
Polydextrose E1200
Potassium 5’-inosinate E632
Potassium acetate E261
Potassium alginate E402
Potassium bicarbonate E501
Potassium carbonate E501
Potassium chloride E508
Potassium citrates E332
Potassium diacetate
Potassium dihydrogen citrate
Potassium gluconate E577
Potassium hydrogen sulfate E515(ii)
Potassium hydroxide E525
Potassium lactate E326
Potassium malate E351
Potassium sulfate
Potassium sulphates E515
Powdered cellulose E460
Processed eucheuma seaweed (PES) E407a
Sodium acetate E262
Sodium alginate E401
Sodium ascorbate E301
Sodium bicarbonate E500
Sodium carbonate E500
Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, enzymatically hydrolysed (Cellulose gum, enzymatically hydrolyzed) E469
Sodium carboxymethylcellulose E466
Sodium citrate
Sodium citrates E331
Sodium diacetate E262
Sodium dihydrogen citrate
Sodium DL-malate
Sodium gluconate E576
Sodium hydrogen DL-malate
Sodium hydrogen sulfate
Sodium hydroxide E524
Sodium lactate E325
Sodium malates E350
Sodium sesquicarbonate
Sodium sulfate
Sodium sulphates E514
Sodium, potassium and calcium salts of fatty acids E470a
Sorbitol E420
Sorbitol syrup
Soybean hemicellulose E426
Starch acetate E1420
Starch sodium octenyl succinate E1450
Sulfuric acid E513
Tara gum E417
Tartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids E472d
Tocopherol-rich extract E306
Triammonium citrate E380
Tripotassium citrate
Xanthan gum E415
Xylitol E967

Group II, Colours atquantum satis — 24 additivesquantum satis. only flavoured unripened products.

Group III, Colours with combined maximum limit — 14 additivesML = 100 mg/kg. only flavoured unripened products.

Nitrates — 2 additivesML = 75 mg/kg. only hard, semi-hard and semi-soft ripened products Period of application: from 9 October 2026. Note: (30) In the cheese milk or equivalent level if added after removal of whey and addition of water (XA) The maximum amount that may be added during the manufacturing expressed as NO₃ ion. (XB) In case the residual amount from all sources for the product ready for marketing throughout the shelf-life of the product exceeds 35 mg/kg expressed as NO₃ ion, food business operators shall investigate the reason of this excess.

Potassium nitrate E252
Sodium nitrate E251

Phosphoric acid - phosphates - di - tri- and polyphosphates — 26 additivesML = 2000 mg/kg. only unripened products. Note 1: The additives may be added individually or in combination.

Propionic acid - propionates — 4 additivesquantum satis. only ripened products surface treatment.

Silicon dioxide - silicates — 4 additivesML = 10000 mg/kg. only sliced or grated hard and semi-hard products Period of application: from 1 February 2014. Note 1: The additives may be added individually or in combination.

Sorbic acid - potassium sorbate (SA) — 2 additivesML = 1000 mg/kg. only unripened products; ripened products, pre-packed, sliced; layered ripened products and ripened products with added foods. Note 1: The additives may be added individually or in combination.

Potassium sorbate E202
Sorbic acid E200