h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi Pimms,

As you probably know, I'm your sub for this entry. It's my first one so be kind to me!

Just a quick query on the paragraph:

'E-numbers are used to indicate permitted food additives in the European Union. The numbers start with E100 (Turmeric, a colouring) and currently go up to E1520 (Propylene glycol, a humectant8). Although the numbers go this high there are numerous gaps, and there are only between 300 and 400 E-numbers specified in total. Each number specifies a particular additive, with blocks of numbers allocated to categories of additives with particular purposes.'

I was thinking that the 'currently go up to' bit will probably go out of date quite quickly and would need constant updating. Do you want to change this?

Thanks,

Claire

I'm not sure when E1520 was introduced, or how soon this number will be exceeded (given that there are lots of gaps)

Maybe worth rephrasing though, as you suggest, possibly to:

'E-numbers are used to indicate permitted food additives in the European Union. The numbers start with E100 (Turmeric, a colouring) and most have three figures (eg Exxx), though some go into the thousands eg E1520 (Propylene glycol, a humectant8). Although the numbers can go this high there are numerous gaps, and there are only between 300 and 400 E-numbers specified in total. Each number specifies a particular additive, with blocks of numbers allocated to categories of additives with particular purposes.'

Don't lose the footnote GML

Pimms
(sorry it took a few days to reply, I was away, but I'm back now)

Pimms, that will be better, I think.

"Don't lose the footnote GML" - what does GML mean, and are you referring to the Propylene glycol footnote? Don't worry, it's still there!

Yep that was what I was referring to. In the past I have copied bits from entries into Word, edited and repasted into the entry and lost the Guide ML (aka GML or Guide Mark-up Language) by mistake.

Yes, I had to preview a few times as I was going along as I kept losing / forgetting / mixing up bits of GuideML !

The entry (A3103822) is now done, so please could you take a look and let me know if you're OK for me to submit it back to the Editors? You'll see that I've made a few changes at the beginning, just to bring in what the EU does a bit more and link it more closely to the whole subject of E-numbers. Other than that I've moved a couple of bits about, and the rest is mostly minor grammar and style corrections etc.

Good entry, btw. Hope you like how it looks now!

Before you send it back amend the links to *allergies* and *sugar* you have added so that they appear in the referenced entries section (the space after the A number needs deleting)

Hopefully these links will be tried and researchers will realise they need updating (particularly the New Zealand and Sugar entries)

Also the sentence that was amended beginning: "The numbers start with E100 (Turmeric, a colouring) and must have three figures (eg. Exxx), though some go into the thousands, ..."

I reckon you should delete the '.' after 'eg', and change 'must' into 'most'

Apart from that, no worries

Pimms

Thanks for spotting that must=>most, Pimms! I've made the other changes too. I'm still copying and pasting GuideML a bit, hence the extra spaces.

I'll get it back to the Editors now and hopefully it'll be on the Front Page soon!

Thanks for helping me out with my first subbing job .

Claire