Why Your Food Shouldn’t Have Numbers in It

I still remember standing in the supermarket aisle, my toddler melting down in the trolley, quickly scanning the back of a packet of ‘fruit’ snacks. Colours 102, 110, 124. Preservative 211. Flavour enhancer 621. I had no idea what any of them meant, but something in my gut told me this wasn’t real food.

That moment sparked a journey that completely changed how I feed my family. And if you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by those mysterious numbers on ingredient lists, you’re definitely not alone. Let’s break down why those little codes matter more than you might think — and how to navigate the supermarket with confidence.

What Are Those Numbers Actually Telling You?

Those three-digit codes on your food labels are called additive numbers, and they represent substances added to processed foods for various purposes. In Australia, they’re regulated by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), and each number corresponds to a specific additive — whether it’s a colour, preservative, flavour enhancer, or emulsifier.

Here’s a quick breakdown of common categories:

• 100-199: Colours (like 102 Tartrazine or 129 Allura Red)
• 200-299: Preservatives (like 211 Sodium Benzoate)
• 300-399: Antioxidants and acidity regulators
• 400-499: Thickeners, stabilisers, and emulsifiers
• 600-699: Flavour enhancers (like 621 MSG)
• 900-999: Sweeteners and miscellaneous additives

Now, not every additive is harmful — some are derived from natural sources. But many synthetic additives have been linked to concerning health effects, particularly in children. The challenge is knowing which ones to watch out for.

The Hidden Impact on Our Kids

As mums, we notice things. Maybe your little one becomes absolutely feral after eating certain packaged snacks. Perhaps there are unexplained rashes, tummy troubles, or sleep issues that come and go without rhyme or reason. These could be signs of additive sensitivity.

Research has shown that certain artificial colours and preservatives can affect children’s behaviour, concentration, and overall wellbeing. The famous Southampton Study in the UK found links between specific artificial colours and hyperactivity in children, leading to warning labels being required on foods containing these additives in Europe.

Yet here in Australia, these same additives are still widely used in products marketed directly to kids — think brightly coloured lollies, flavoured yoghurts, and even some breakfast cereals.

Some of the most commonly flagged additives include:

• 102 (Tartrazine): Yellow colour linked to hyperactivity and allergic reactions
• 110 (Sunset Yellow): Another artificial colour with similar concerns
• 211 (Sodium Benzoate): Preservative that may worsen hyperactive behaviour
• 621 (MSG): Flavour enhancer associated with headaches and sensitivities
• 951 (Aspartame): Artificial sweetener with ongoing health debates

Why Real Food Doesn’t Need a Chemistry Degree

Here’s the beautiful simplicity of whole foods: an apple is just an apple. Broccoli is just broccoli. Eggs are just eggs. When you pick up a carrot, you don’t need to flip it over and decode an ingredient list — because there isn’t one.

Additives are primarily used to extend shelf life, enhance colours that fade during processing, improve texture in foods stripped of their natural structure, and make flavours more intense in products where real ingredients are minimal. In other words, they’re often compensating for the fact that heavily processed foods have had the goodness processed right out of them.

When we choose whole foods and minimally processed options, we’re not just avoiding questionable additives — we’re giving our families genuine nutrition. Real vitamins. Actual fibre. Natural flavours that help our kids develop a taste for proper food rather than hyper-palatable processed alternatives.

Practical Tips for a Low-Number Kitchen

Going completely additive-free overnight isn’t realistic for most busy families — and that’s okay! Small changes add up. Here’s how to get started:

Start with the regulars: Look at the packaged foods your family eats most often. Bread, crackers, sauces, yoghurt. Compare brands and choose options with shorter, simpler ingredient lists.

Learn the nasty numbers: You don’t need to memorise every additive, but becoming familiar with the worst offenders helps. Keep a small list in your phone or wallet for quick reference while shopping.

Shop the perimeter: Fresh produce, meat, dairy, and eggs are typically around the edges of the supermarket. The more time you spend there, the fewer numbers end up in your trolley.

Get back to basics: Batch cooking simple snacks like bliss balls, homemade muesli bars, or veggie muffins means you control exactly what goes into them. It takes a bit of time on the weekend but saves stress during the week.

Read beyond the marketing: ‘Natural,’ ‘wholesome,’ and ‘made with real fruit’ mean very little legally. Always flip the packet over and check the actual ingredients. If you’re looking for helpful resources, a good additives guide book can be an absolute game-changer for decoding labels quickly.

Making Peace with Progress, Not Perfection

Let me be honest with you — I’m not perfect with this, and you don’t need to be either. Sometimes the budget doesn’t stretch to the organic option. Sometimes grandparents give the kids party food, and that’s okay too. Sometimes we’re exhausted and convenience wins.

What matters is the overall pattern. Most of the time, most of our meals, we aim for real food. Foods our great-grandmothers would recognise. Ingredients we can pronounce. Meals made with love and actual vegetables.

The goal isn’t to create fear or anxiety around food — it’s to make informed choices that support our family’s health. When you know what those numbers mean, you take back the power from marketing departments and make decisions based on what’s actually in the packet.

Your Family Deserves Real Food

Our children’s little bodies are growing and developing at an incredible rate. Their brains are forming connections, their immune systems are strengthening, their relationship with food is being shaped right now. They deserve fuel that supports that amazing work — not additives designed to make processed products look prettier and last longer on shelves.

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed by nutrition information, start here: look for foods without numbers. Choose ingredients you recognise. Cook simple meals when you can. And trust that every small step toward real food is a gift to your family’s wellbeing.

I’d love to hear from you — have you noticed any changes in your children when certain additives are removed from their diet? Drop a comment below and share your experience with our community. And if you found this helpful, share it with another mum who might be standing in that supermarket aisle, feeling just as confused as I once was.