Safe
E290 — Carbon dioxide
Acidity regulator
E290 (Carbon dioxide), a acidity regulator, is rated "safe": no significant concern. The gas that makes drinks fizzy. Same compound your body makes from breathing and digestion. No realistic safety concern.
What is Carbon dioxide?
The gas that creates the fizz in soft drinks, sparkling water, and beer. Also used in modified-atmosphere packaging to extend shelf life.
What does it do to the body?
Your body produces it every time you breathe out. Drinking carbonated drinks just adds a small amount of gas that you burp out. No realistic safety concern.
What regulators say
EFSA and the FDA both treat it as a safe additive with no numerical limit.
Risk rating: Safe
Cleared by EFSA with no significant concern at typical dietary exposure. Common, well-studied, and not a reason to put a product back on the shelf.
Frequently asked questions
Is E290 (Carbon dioxide) safe?
EFSA and the FDA both treat it as a safe additive with no numerical limit.
What is E290 (Carbon dioxide)?
The gas that creates the fizz in soft drinks, sparkling water, and beer. Also used in modified-atmosphere packaging to extend shelf life.
What does Carbon dioxide do to the body?
Your body produces it every time you breathe out. Drinking carbonated drinks just adds a small amount of gas that you burp out. No realistic safety concern.
What are other names for E290?
E290 is also known as carbon dioxide.