Requirements for listing ingredients for EU and US

For products intended for US or Europe:

When is it obligatory to write down group names/

for example "colors(FD&C Red 40)" or "Preservative(Potassium sorbate)"

Thanks

D guy

Hi D guy,
For the EU it's generally a requirement to declare the "functional class" (e.g. preservative, antioxidant etc) and either the name of the additive or its E-number.

See part C of Annex VII of Regulation (EU) 1169/2011 for the full list of those for which this is applicable.

In the US - Chemical Preservative:  When an approved chemical preservative is added to a food, the ingredient list must include both the common or usual name of the preservative and the function of the preservative by including terms, such as “preservative,” “to retard spoilage,” “a mold inhibitor,” “to help protect flavor,” or “to promote color retention.”
“INGREDIENTS: Dried Bananas, Sugar, Salt, and Ascorbic Acid to Promote Color Retention”
21 CFR 101.22(j)

Spices, artificial flavors or colors: These may be declared in ingredient lists by using either specific common or usual names or by using the declarations “spices,” “flavor” or “natural flavor,” or “artificial flavor.”
“INGREDIENTS: Apple Slices, Water, Cane Syrup, Corn Syrup, Modified Corn Starch, Spices, Salt, Natural Flavor and Artificial Flavor”
However, products that are spices or spice blends, flavors or colors must list each ingredient by name. FD&C Act 403(i)(2) and 21 CFR 101.22(h)(1)

Taken from: pg 18 of https://www.fda.gov/...n/UCM265446.pdf