E290Packaging gasCarbonating agent
What Is E290? Carbon Dioxide and Where It Is Used
Also known as: CO₂
E290 is the additive number of carbon dioxide, the gas that makes fizzy drinks fizz. In packaged foods it replaces the air so the product keeps longer.
- In the Besin database
- 361 products
- About 3.1 in every 100 products
- Source
- Mineral
- Acceptable daily intake (ADI)
- No numerical value set
What does E290 do?
In soda, cola, mineral water and tonic it dissolves in the water and creates the tangy taste and bubbles. In packaged salads, meat and baked goods it is used as a protective atmosphere gas.
How is it made?
Collected and purified as a by-product of industrial processes such as fermentation and ammonia production; it is also obtained from some natural sources.
Vegan and halal: No animal raw material is used; it suits vegan and vegetarian diets.
Which products contain E290?
361 of the 11,663 packaged products in the Besin database list E290 (Carbon dioxide) in their ingredients. The categories where it appears most often:
- Soda122 products
- Flavored Mineral Water75 products
- Cola53 products
- Energy Drinks39 products
- Tonic25 products
- Malt Drinks16 products
Numbers as of the database snapshot of October 18, 2026.
Official evaluation
The international JECFA committee evaluated carbon dioxide in 1985 and set no numerical ADI. EFSA collected data in 2023–2024 to re-evaluate additives in gas form; when this page was written we found no finished opinion.
Food additives are regulated by the EU food additives regulation (Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008) and, in Türkiye, the Turkish Food Codex Regulation on Food Additives (Official Gazette, 30.06.2013, No. 28693). The ADI is the amount estimated to be safe to take every day over a lifetime, given per kilogram of body weight.
Frequently asked questions
Is the gas in mineral water also E290?
The gas in natural mineral water can come from the spring. Carbon dioxide added during production is listed in the ingredients as carbon dioxide or E290.
Why is E290 used in packaged products?
When it replaces the air in the pack it lowers the oxygen level and slows the growth of moulds and bacteria, so the product keeps longer.
Which products contain E290 most often?
In the Besin database it appears most often in sodas, flavoured mineral waters, colas, energy drinks and tonics.
Related additives
Sources
- EFSA: Call for data for the re-evaluation of food additives in gaseous form
- the EU food additives regulation (Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008) and, in Türkiye, the Turkish Food Codex Regulation on Food Additives (Official Gazette, 30.06.2013, No. 28693)
Last reviewed: . This page is for information only and is not medical advice. To report a mistake, write to iletisim@besin.app.