E290Carbon dioxide

E290 is carbon dioxide (CO₂), the gas that makes fizzy drinks fizzy. In food it is also used as a packaging gas, foaming agent, preservative and propellant.

Did you know? In Vietnam, Circular 24/2019/TT-BYT permits carbon dioxide in fruit juice, concentrated fruit juice, fruit nectar and concentrated fruit nectar, but only as a carbonating agent.

Code: E290 · INS 290
Group: Carbonating agent, Foaming agent, Packaging gas, Preservative, Propellant

In Vietnam✓ PermittedOn the list of permitted additives — Circular 24/2019, Appendix 1

Risk level on the Yenzo Scalevery low?Based on the Open Food Facts additives taxonomy

How E290 appears on labels

IngredientsIllustrative example

Wheat flour, vegetable oil, salt, sugar, carbonating agent (290), dried onion and garlic, pepper, natural colour (160a).

carbonating agent (290)carbonating agent 290E290INS 290On Vietnamese labels: Carbon dioxyd

Carbon dioxide in food

Milk, cheese, cream

Fresh cut fruit

Noodles, pasta, cereals Fish and seafood, canned

Infant formula, foods for young children

Juices, fruit nectars

Coffee, tea, herbal drinks Flavoured drinks Confectionery

Questions about carbon dioxide

What is E290 (carbon dioxide)?

It is carbon dioxide (CO₂). Circular 24/2019/TT-BYT lists E290 as a carbonating agent, foaming agent, packaging gas, preservative and propellant.

Is carbon dioxide harmful?

The JECFA database (the FAO/WHO expert committee) records an ADI of “not specified” (no numerical ADI is needed) for carbon dioxide, evaluated in 1985.

Is INS 290 permitted in Vietnam?

Yes. Carbon dioxide (INS 290) is listed in Appendix 1 of Circular 24/2019/TT-BYT, the list of additives permitted in food, as a carbonating agent, foaming agent, packaging gas, preservative and propellant.

Can children and pregnant women have E290?

Circular 24/2019/TT-BYT permits carbon dioxide at good manufacturing practice in infant formula for children up to 12 months, in formula for special medical purposes for children up to 12 months and in complementary foods for children up to 36 months, only as a packaging gas. The text does not mention pregnant women separately.

Updated 23 October 2026

How Yenzo scores

Sources (3)

Open Food Facts additives taxonomy (Yenzo's table cites no EFSA opinion for this code). Open Food Facts additives taxonomy, https://github.com/openfoodfacts/openfoodfacts-server/blob/main/taxonomies/additives.txt (entry en:e290)
Thông tư 24/2019/TT-BYT (văn bản hợp nhất 09/VBHN-BYT), Phụ lục 2A (carbon dioxyd, INS 290; nhóm 14.1.2.1, 14.1.2.3, 14.1.3.1, 14.1.3.3; ghi chú 69)
JECFA (FAO/WHO) evaluation database: Carbon dioxide, INS 290

Information only, not medical advice. The risk level is the additive's class in Yenzo's open scoring method, based on the cited source.