Check ingredient and source E120 carmine, E901 beeswax, E904 shellac and milk-derived E966 lactitol are not vegan. Other additives, including E471, E472 and E322, require attention to their source. This is a practical guide to common questions, not an exhaustive approval list or an allergy-safety checker.
Check your own packetScan the barcode or photograph the ingredient list with VeganCheckr, then compare the result with your packet. For example, E322 with a stated soy source is different from an unexplained E322. If the manufacturer has not disclosed an additive's source, an app cannot supply that missing evidence.
iPhone and Android offer barcode and ingredient-label checks; interfaces and Premium features differ. Always read the original ingredients and warnings. A dietary verdict is not an allergy-safety guarantee.
What an E-number does, and does not, tell you
An E-number identifies an additive. It does not certify a food as vegan, establish that every use is authorised, or guarantee suitability for someone with an allergy. In the EU, Regulation 1333/2008 sets authorised additives and conditions of use; specifications are set separately in Regulation 231/2012 and its amendments.
The ingredient-list rule is in Regulation 1169/2011, Annex VII, Part C: relevant additives are generally described by their functional category followed by their name or E-number. Allergen disclosure requirements, including Article 21, still apply. Some sources must therefore be declared, and manufacturers can provide additional source information voluntarily. It is wrong to say labels never reveal an additive's origin.
This guide explains EU rules where stated, not a single worldwide rulebook. For UK products, consult the Food Standards Agency's approved-additives guide; Great Britain and Northern Ireland requirements can differ. A familiar code on an imported pack is not proof of current EU authorisation.
Animal-derived additives to recognise
These are useful starting points, not the only possible animal ingredients in a food. The EU additive specifications describe their material origins.
| Code and ingredient | Why it matters for vegans | Where to look |
|---|---|---|
| E120 carmine / cochineal | Colour obtained from cochineal insects | Colour declarations in sweets, drinks and desserts |
| E901 beeswax | Wax produced by bees | Glazing agents and coatings |
| E904 shellac | Resin produced by lac insects | Glazing agents on confectionery and other coatings |
| E966 lactitol | Made by hydrogenating lactose, a milk sugar | Sweetener declarations |
Vegetarian and vegan are not interchangeable verdicts. For example, the Vegetarian Society's vegetarian trademark criteria exclude shellac, while India's FSSAI vegetarian definition treats it differently. Do not assume that every insect-produced ingredient is acceptable to every vegetarian standard.
Why E441, E542 and E913 need a separate note
Older additive lists associate E441 with gelatine, E542 with edible bone phosphate and E913 with lanolin. These legacy identifiers are not entries in the current EU authorised-additives list checked for this revision. Presenting them alongside current authorised EU codes without an explanation is misleading.
In particular, Article 3 of Regulation 1333/2008 excludes edible gelatin from its definition of a food additive. That does not make gelatine vegan or ban its use as a food ingredient. Read for the word gelatine or gelatin, not just a number. Bone-derived material and wool-derived lanolin likewise remain animal-derived whatever a historical list calls them.
Additives whose source needs checking
A source question is not the same as a non-vegan verdict. Start with the actual wording, a current product-specific vegan claim or certification, and the manufacturer's answer.
| Additive | What to establish | A useful next step |
|---|---|---|
| E471 mono- and diglycerides | Whether the relevant fats are plant- or animal-derived | Look for a vegetable-source declaration |
| E472a–f emulsifiers | The source of the fatty-acid components | Keep the letter suffix when asking the manufacturer |
| E322 lecithin | Plant source such as soy or sunflower versus egg | Read the declared source and relevant allergen information |
| E920 L-cysteine | Manufacturing source, which the number does not identify | Ask about the exact product rather than all bread |
| E570 fatty acids | Plant or animal source | Request a source statement if suitability is unclear |
| E627, E631 and E635 | Production source of the flavour-enhancing ingredients | Check the complete seasoning and product evidence |
E422 glycerol needs a location-specific explanation. The EU's specification was amended in 2023 to use vegetable oils and fats as its source. Do not automatically apply that specification to every product called glycerin worldwide, including non-food products, or treat it as approval of the whole recipe.
An actual label can resolve one of these questions. On October 1, 2026, the manufacturer's page for Biscoff Spread Creamy 400 g named soya as its lecithin source. That identifies the emulsifier's origin for that product; it is not evidence about all spreads or every country formulation.
Common additives that are not automatically animal-derived
A chemical-sounding name is not a reason to reject a food. These dedicated guides explain the ingredient's role, source evidence and limits of the verdict:
- Food colourings: distinguish insect-derived E120 from other colours. Similar names or a red appearance are not enough to identify the colourant.
- Citric acid, E330: an acid used for flavour and acidity control, not a milk ingredient and not itself a gelling replacement for gelatine.
- Sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate, E211 and E202: preservatives whose presence does not make an otherwise vegan recipe non-vegan.
- Sulphites: separate the preservative question from animal-derived fining agents in wine and from allergy warnings.
- MSG, E621: do not confuse this flavour enhancer with meat ingredients or other additives in a seasoning blend.
- Xanthan gum, E415: a fermentation-produced thickener. The gum and the other ingredients in the finished sauce need separate checks.
- Lactic acid, E270: its name alone does not mean that milk was used.
For plant-based gelling ingredients, agar (E406) and pectin (E440) are useful examples. They do not work identically in every recipe. A sweet containing pectin can still contain another animal ingredient, so a gelling-agent substitution is not a complete product verdict.
How to check the whole product
- Identify the exact pack. Note its country, flavour, barcode and any recent recipe change.
- Read ingredients beyond E-numbers. Milk, whey, honey, egg and gelatine may appear as ordinary words. Our hidden-animal-ingredient guide covers these.
- Resolve source-dependent entries. A named plant source or current vegan certification can help. If asking the manufacturer, include the full code, including letters.
- Leave genuine uncertainty unresolved. A missing answer is neither proof of an animal source nor proof that none was used. Choose a clearly labelled alternative if that better meets your needs.
For the wider method, see how to read food labels as a vegan. If you are comparing an online list with the packet, the ingredient checker guide explains how to review the text and its limitations.
Frequently asked questions
Which common E-numbers are not vegan?
E120 carmine, E901 beeswax, E904 shellac and milk-derived E966 lactitol are useful animal-origin examples. This is not an exhaustive list, and ingredients such as gelatine also appear without E-numbers.
Is E471 always non-vegan?
No. Its source can be plant or animal. Check a declared source, certification or a current answer for the specific product.
Do EU labels always reveal an additive's source?
No general plant-versus-animal declaration is required for every additive. Relevant allergen disclosures and voluntary source wording can still identify some origins, including soya lecithin.
Are all E-numbers approved everywhere?
No. Authorisation depends on the jurisdiction, additive, food category and conditions of use. An old list or an E-number by itself does not establish current authorisation.
Three more codes with different evidence
E100 curcumin and E440 pectin illustrate plant-derived ingredients inside foods that can still contain animal ingredients. E476/PGPR has a specific EU source chain: castor-oil fatty acids and glycerol meeting E422’s vegetable-source definition. That EU conclusion does not certify a chocolate bar or establish every other market’s supplier inputs.
Two more codes with different evidence questions
E473 sucrose esters have documented plant-derived supplier grades, but the code does not identify the supplier in a finished food. E414 gum arabic comes from trees; the remaining recipe still needs checking.
Check the label on your own product
VeganCheckr scans barcodes and ingredient labels, flags hidden animal ingredients and E-numbers, and shows you the evidence. Free to download on the App Store and Google Play. Optional Premium features vary by platform.
Scan with your iPhone camera