An ingredient checker reads a product's ingredient list and identifies the additives worth knowing about. Paste the list below and you will see every flagged additive, its concern level, a plain-language summary, and a link to the full explainer for each one. If nothing is flagged, the checker says so honestly rather than inventing a problem.
This web tool only knows the additives we have written up. The NoJunk app reads the entire ingredient list with your camera and flags more than 300 ingredients to watch, no typing required.
What this ingredient checker flags
The checker matches the words in your list against a small library of additives that each have a full, sourced explainer on this site. Here are the ones it currently recognizes, with the concern level drawn from what regulators have actually said about each.
| Additive | E-number | Concern |
|---|---|---|
| Red 40 | E129 | High |
| Titanium Dioxide | E171 | High |
| BHA | E320 | High |
| Glyphosate | residue | High |
| Xylitol | E967 | High |
| Sucralose | E955 | Medium |
| Erythritol | E968 | Medium |
| Xanthan Gum | E415 | Medium |
| MSG | E621 | Low |
| Stevia | E960 | Low |
| Citric Acid | E330 | Low |
This library is growing. For a complete reading of any label, including the hundreds of ingredients not yet written up here, scan the product in the app.
How to read an ingredient list yourself
Ingredients are listed by weight, most first. The first three usually tell you what a product really is. Additives tend to cluster near the end: colors, preservatives, sweeteners, and thickeners. A long list is not automatically bad, but it is worth knowing what each unfamiliar word does. Our ingredient encyclopedia explains the common ones in plain language, and the food additives to avoid guide groups them by what they do.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about using this ingredient checker.
Is this ingredient checker free?
Yes. It is free, needs no account, and runs entirely in your browser. The list you paste never leaves your device, so nothing you type is uploaded or stored.
Does it catch every additive on the label?
No. This web tool only flags the additives that have a full explainer on this site. It is a starting point, not a complete audit. The NoJunk app reads the entire ingredient list and flags more than 300 ingredients to watch.
What does the concern level mean?
It is a simple guide drawn from what regulators have said about each additive, not a precise health score. High means there is a ban, a warning-label requirement, or a carcinogen classification somewhere. Medium means the science is contested or there is a noted exception. Low means regulators classify it as safe. Each result links to the full detail so you can read the evidence yourself.
Why does the checker say a "safe" additive was flagged?
Flagged means recognized, not condemned. Citric acid and stevia, for example, are flagged as low concern because regulators classify them as safe. The point is transparency: you see what is in the product and can decide for yourself.