What these numbers on packaged foods actually mean
The FAO- and WHO-backed Codex Alimentarius Commission assigns standard codes to food additives: INS 330 is citric acid, INS 322 lecithins and INS 551 silicon dioxide. These regulate acidity, help ingredients mix and prevent clumping, respectively. An INS code alone does not mean a food is unsafe; consumers should also check its ingredients and nutritional information.
