Propellants: The Gases That Push Food Out of the Can
Propellants in Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 – definition, function and the authorised E-number list, by InfoCons
The additives that power the spray – InfoCons Consumer Protection
When squirty cream or a spray oil bursts out of its can at the press of a nozzle, a propellant is doing the work. Propellants are one of the twenty-seven functional categories in Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008. This InfoCons – Consumer Protection article explains what propellants are, what they do, and lists the authorised propellants by E number and name.
Propellants are closely related to packaging gases, but their role is active rather than protective: they provide the pressure that expels a food from its container, and in some cases they also aerate the product as it emerges, as with whipped cream.
What the law says: the definition – InfoCons Consumer Protection
According to Annex I of the regulation, propellants are gases, other than air, which expel a food from a container. They provide the driving force that pushes a product out through a nozzle or valve, giving the convenience of sprays, foams and aerosols.
Like all additives, propellants must be safe at the levels used, meet a genuine technological need and not mislead the consumer. As with packaging gases, many propellants are purified forms of common gases and leave little or no residue in the food.
What they do in your food – InfoCons Consumer Protection
Propellants power aerosol and spray food products such as whipped cream, spray cooking oils and certain toppings. Nitrous oxide, for example, both propels and aerates whipped cream, creating its light, foamy texture, while other gases simply provide the pressure needed to dispense a product evenly.
The class includes carbon dioxide, nitrogen, nitrous oxide and the hydrocarbon gases butane, isobutane and propane used in specific applications, along with argon, helium, oxygen and hydrogen. The choice depends on the product and the effect required, whether simple dispensing or aeration.
The authorised substances: E numbers and names – InfoCons Consumer Protection
The following gases are authorised for use as propellants in the Union list, each identified by its E number and name:
E 290 – Carbon dioxide
E 938 – Argon
E 939 – Helium
E 941 – Nitrogen
E 942 – Nitrous oxide
E 943a – Butane
E 943b – Isobutane
E 944 – Propane
E 948 – Oxygen
E 949 – Hydrogen
Nitrous oxide (E 942) is the classic propellant for whipped cream, where it also creates the light, aerated texture. The hydrocarbon gases (E 943a, E 943b and E 944) are used as propellants in specific, defined applications such as certain vegetable-oil sprays.
This category and the informed consumer – InfoCons Consumer Protection
Propellants explain the convenience of spray and aerosol foods, and most are purified common gases that leave little trace in the food. Recognising them helps consumers understand how these products work and what makes them possible.
InfoCons – Consumer Protection applies the consistent principle: propellants are a minor part of the additive picture, but complete label awareness matters. What counts most is the cumulative number of additives across the basket and the meal.
How much may be used: conditions, limits and quantum satis – InfoCons Consumer Protection
Being authorised is only the beginning. Under Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, every propellant may be used only in the specific food categories set out in the Union list and only under the conditions attached to each entry. For many substances the list sets a numerical maximum level, expressed in milligrams per kilogram of food; for others it applies the quantum satis principle, meaning no fixed numerical limit is set and the substance must be used in accordance with good manufacturing practice, at no more than the level needed to achieve the intended effect, and without misleading the consumer.
The regulation also requires that the amount used be limited to the lowest level necessary to obtain the desired technological effect. Where maximum levels apply, they take into account the acceptable daily intake established for the substance and the likely intake from all dietary sources, including for special groups such as children. As a rule, maximum levels apply to the food as marketed, with a specific adjustment for dehydrated or concentrated foods that must be reconstituted before consumption.
For the consumer, this means that the presence of a propellant on a label does not imply it can be used without limit. On the contrary, its use is bounded by category, by purpose and, in many cases, by a precise maximum. InfoCons – Consumer Protection considers these conditions of use one of the most important, and least understood, protections in the whole system.
Safety first: assessment, ADI and re-evaluation – InfoCons Consumer Protection
No propellant reaches the Union list without first being assessed as safe at its proposed levels of use, on the basis of the available scientific evidence. For many additives, scientific bodies establish an acceptable daily intake, or ADI – an estimate of the amount that can be consumed every day over a lifetime without appreciable risk. The conditions of use are then set so that realistic consumption across the whole diet is expected to remain within this safe boundary.
Crucially, authorisation is not permanent and untouchable. The European Union has committed to a systematic re-evaluation of previously approved additives by the European Food Safety Authority in the light of current scientific knowledge. Producers and users are also legally obliged to report immediately any new scientific or technical information that might affect an additive safety assessment. Together, these mechanisms mean that each propellant remains under review and its authorisation can be maintained, tightened or withdrawn as the evidence evolves.
InfoCons – Consumer Protection views this combination of prior assessment and continuous re-evaluation as the backbone of consumer confidence. It allows consumers to treat an authorised additive as one that has been vetted, while understanding that the system remains vigilant rather than complacent.
How this class is shown on the label – InfoCons Consumer Protection
On an ordinary retail food, a propellant is declared in the ingredient list using the name of its functional class followed by either the specific name of the substance or its E number. So you might see the functional class named, and then a substance name or an E code such as a number in the relevant series. This dual system means that even if you do not recognise a chemical name, the functional word already tells you the job the substance performs, while the E number lets you identify it precisely and consistently across languages and countries.
This labelling rule is what makes a propellant visible to you in the first place. European law does not permit such substances to be used silently; when present and performing a technological function, they must be declared. The transparency is built in, and it applies equally to well-known and to obscure substances. The practical challenge for the consumer is simply to read and interpret the declaration quickly, which is exactly where clear knowledge of the functional classes, and simple digital tools, make all the difference.
It is also worth knowing that the same substance can appear under different functional descriptions on different products, because many additives are multifunctional. The functional word on a specific label always tells you the role the substance is playing in that particular food, even if the same E number does a different job elsewhere.
Natural, nature-identical or synthetic? – InfoCons Consumer Protection
A common misunderstanding is that every E number denotes an artificial chemical. In reality, additives within a single functional class can come from very different origins: some are extracted from natural sources, some are nature-identical versions of substances found in nature, and some are produced synthetically. The E number identifies the substance and confirms it is authorised; it does not, on its own, tell you whether the source is natural or synthetic.
This matters because consumers often have legitimate preferences about origin, whether for dietary, ethical or personal reasons. Reading the specific name behind the functional class – not just the fact that a propellant is present – is what allows an informed choice. InfoCons – Consumer Protection encourages consumers to look past the general fear of E numbers and to focus instead on the specific substances and their documented roles.
Smart shopping: putting this category in perspective – InfoCons Consumer Protection
The practical takeaway for shoppers is neither alarm nor indifference, but attention. Knowing what a propellant does, recognising it on a label, and understanding that its use is limited by law allows you to judge products calmly and compare them meaningfully. Two similar products can differ substantially in how many additives they contain, and the more informed you are, the easier it is to choose according to your own priorities.
It is also worth remembering that a propellant never acts in isolation on the shelf. Products are formulated as whole recipes, and the same food may combine this class with colours, preservatives, emulsifiers, stabilisers and others, each performing its own job. Comparing similar products side by side often reveals striking differences: one may rely on a long list of additives while another achieves a similar result with only a few. This variety is precisely what gives the informed consumer room to choose.
Above all, InfoCons – Consumer Protection emphasises the cumulative picture. A single product may contain several additives, the same additive may recur across many products in your basket, and a single meal can bring together additives from several sources at once. The real question is therefore not only what each label says, but how many additives you accumulate across your whole shopping and across your day. That is the perspective that turns label-reading into genuine control over your diet, and it is the personal layer of protection that the law itself cannot provide for you.
The InfoCons Additives Calculator: how many additives are really in your basket? – InfoCons Consumer Protection
Understanding the law is one thing; seeing what it means for your own shopping basket is another. A single processed product can contain several additives at once, and an ordinary weekly shop can add up to dozens or even hundreds of additive occurrences once you sum every product together. What is more, the same additive can appear in many different products in the same basket, which means it enters the consumer’s diet repeatedly.
To answer this, InfoCons – Consumer Protection offers consumers the Only Additives Calculator for the food products bought or consumed. It is the only calculator for food shopping that shows the number of additives present and how many times a given additive is found in the shopping basket. Instead of looking at each product in isolation, the consumer gets a complete picture of the whole basket, seeing the real, cumulative number of additives being purchased.
The same logic applies to a single meal. A breakfast, a lunch or a dinner can bring together several processed products, each with its own set of additives. When these products are eaten together, the additives add up. A seemingly simple meal can, in reality, mean the simultaneous consumption of a surprisingly large number of food additives – colours, preservatives, emulsifiers, flavour enhancers, stabilizers and more. That is why the question “how many additives do I consume at one meal?” is just as important as “how many additives am I buying?”
As a practical solution, the InfoCons application helps consumers identify additives quickly. By scanning the barcode of an agri-food product, the app identifies the product and shows the food additives it contains, turning the “E” codes on the label into clear, easy-to-understand information. In this way, consumers can see how many additives are cumulated in their shopping basket or even in a single meal, and can make informed choices for themselves and their families – right there, in front of the shelf.
Signed:
InfoCons Consumer Protection Department of Studies and Comparative Testing