Close-up of the ingredients label for a tub of Pot Noodles", a type of "instant meal" which requires only the addition of some boiling water to reconstitute the dehydrated contents. As the label shows, the contents are predominantly a mixture of various additives, including: flavourings, antioxidants, colourings, sweeteners and preservatives. The various components are each identified using a numbering system (the E number); each E number represents a specific component. The presence of certain E numbered additives in foods has been linked to a range of medical conditions from hyperactivity in children to cancers in adults."