E300 — Ascorbic acid
E300 (Ascorbic acid), a antioxidant, is rated "safe": no significant concern. Vitamin C. Added to slow browning and as a nutrient. Same molecule found in oranges and bell peppers.
What is Ascorbic acid?
Vitamin C itself. Added to juices, cured meats, baked goods, and frozen foods to prevent browning and add nutrient value.
What does it do to the body?
An essential vitamin your body cannot make. Excess is excreted in urine. The only realistic concern is when it sits in a drink with sodium benzoate (E211), which can form trace benzene under heat or light, but most modern formulations have been reformulated.
What regulators say
EFSA and the FDA both treat it as a safe nutrient 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.