E-numbers are the EU's standardised codes for food additives. They appear on labels worldwide, and many of them hide animal-derived ingredients in plain sight. This guide tells you exactly which ones are vegan, which aren't, and which depend entirely on the manufacturer.

Quick answer: The E-numbers that are never vegan are E120 (carmine, from insects), E441 (gelatine, from animal bones), E904 (shellac, from lac insects), E901 (beeswax), and E542 (bone phosphate). E471 (mono- and diglycerides), E322 (lecithin), and E920 (L-cysteine) are ambiguous — they may or may not be vegan depending on whether the manufacturer used plant or animal sources, and the label will not tell you which.

There are over 300 approved E-numbers. Most are harmless plant extracts or synthetic compounds — but a significant minority come from insects, animals, or are so ambiguous that no label will tell you which source was used. Here's the definitive breakdown.

Why E-numbers matter for vegans: Many E-numbers have multiple possible sources — animal or plant — and the label never specifies which was used. When in doubt, scan the full ingredient list with Food Check AI for an instant, ingredient-by-ingredient verdict.

Non-Vegan E-Numbers (Always Avoid)

These E-numbers are always animal-derived. There is no plant-based version currently approved under the same code.

E120

Carmine · Cochineal / Natural Red 4

A vivid red dye made from crushed cochineal insects. It takes approximately 70,000 insects to produce 500g of dye [⚑ verify against EFSA or Vegan Society source]. Despite being "natural," it is entirely animal-derived and never vegan.

Also listed as: cochineal extract, crimson lake, natural red 4, CI 75470 Found in: red fruit juices, yogurts, jams, candy, lipsticks, processed meats
E441

Gelatine · Hydrolysed Collagen

Made by boiling animal bones, skin, and connective tissue. It is used as a gelling agent across a huge range of products — including some that most shoppers wouldn't suspect, like vitamin capsules and certain fruit-flavoured sweets.

Also listed as: gelatine, gelatin, hydrolysed collagen Found in: gummies, marshmallows, panna cotta, capsule shells, coated nuts, desserts
E904

Shellac · Confectioner's Glaze

A resinous secretion from the female lac insect. Used as a glossy coating on candies, chocolate, and waxed fruit. The term "confectioner's glaze" is its common disguise on labels.

Also listed as: shellac, confectioner's glaze, candy glaze, pharmaceutical glaze Found in: shiny candies, chocolate coatings, waxed apples and citrus fruit, sprinkles
E901

Beeswax · White and Yellow Beeswax

Produced by honeybees, used as a glazing agent and surface coating. Many vegans avoid all bee products; beeswax is not considered vegan by most definitions.

Also listed as: beeswax, cera flava, cera alba Found in: sweets coatings, fruit wax coatings, chewing gum, supplements
E542

Bone Phosphate · Edible Bone Phosphate

An anti-caking agent derived from animal bones. Used in powdered products to prevent clumping.

Also listed as: edible bone phosphate, calcium phosphate (bone-derived) Found in: powdered spice blends, bone meal supplements, some dry mixes
E910 / E920 / E921

L-Cysteine · Dough Conditioner

An amino acid used as a dough conditioner to create softer, more elastic bread. Commercially, it is most often sourced from poultry feathers or human hair, though synthetic versions exist. Labels do not indicate the source.

Also listed as: L-cysteine, cysteine, E920 Found in: packaged bread, bagels, pizza dough, pastries, fast food buns

Ambiguous E-Numbers (Check the Manufacturer)

These E-numbers can be produced from either plant or animal sources. The label will not tell you which was used — you need to contact the manufacturer or use an ingredient scanner.

E471

Mono- and Diglycerides of Fatty Acids · Common Emulsifier

One of the most widespread food additives, used in bread, margarine, ice cream, and more. Can be made from vegetable oils (vegan) or animal fats (not vegan). The manufacturer determines the source, and it is rarely stated on labels.

Also listed as: mono- and diglycerides, glyceryl monostearate, E471 Found in: bread, margarine, ice cream, peanut butter, baked goods, processed foods
E472a–f

Esters of Mono- and Diglycerides · Emulsifier Family

A family of emulsifiers closely related to E471. All share the same ambiguity — they can derive from plant or animal fat. This includes E472a (acetic acid esters), E472b (lactic acid esters), E472c (citric acid esters), E472e (DATEM), and E472f (mixed acid esters).

Also listed as: DATEM, acetic acid esters of monoglycerides, citric acid esters Found in: bread, pastries, cakes, whipped toppings, margarine
E322

Lecithin · Emulsifier

Most commercial lecithin is soy-derived (vegan), but it can also come from egg yolks. If the label says "soy lecithin" or "sunflower lecithin" it's vegan. If it just says "lecithin" or "E322," egg-derived is possible.

Also listed as: lecithin, soy lecithin, sunflower lecithin, egg lecithin Found in: chocolate, margarine, baked goods, processed foods
E570

Fatty Acids · Stearic Acid

A broad category covering stearic acid, palmitic acid, and others. These can be derived from plant oils (vegan) or animal tallow (not vegan). The term on the label gives no indication of the source.

Also listed as: fatty acids, stearic acid, palmitic acid, E570 Found in: chewing gum, confectionery coatings, some baked goods
E422

Glycerol · Glycerine / Glycerin

A humectant that keeps food moist. Most glycerol is now synthetically produced or plant-derived, but animal-derived glycerol (from tallow) still exists in some supply chains.

Also listed as: glycerol, glycerine, glycerin, E422 Found in: dried fruit, confectionery, cake icing, marzipan, liqueurs

E-Numbers That Are Always Vegan

These are reliably plant-based or synthetic and do not require ingredient-by-ingredient checking.

E-Number Name Source Common Use
E100 Curcumin Turmeric root Yellow colouring
E101 Riboflavin (B2) Synthetic / fermentation Yellow-orange colouring
E140 Chlorophylls Plants Green colouring
E160a Carotenes Carrots / plants Orange-yellow colouring
E162 Beetroot Red Beetroot Red-purple colouring
E200 Sorbic Acid Synthetic Preservative
E270 Lactic Acid Fermentation (usually vegan) Acidity regulator
E300 Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) Synthetic / plant Antioxidant
E330 Citric Acid Fermentation / citrus fruit Acidity regulator
E407 Carrageenan Red seaweed Thickener / gelling agent
E410 Locust Bean Gum Carob tree seeds Thickener
E412 Guar Gum Guar beans Thickener
E415 Xanthan Gum Bacterial fermentation Thickener / stabiliser
E440 Pectin Fruit Gelling agent
E500 Sodium Bicarbonate Synthetic / mineral Raising agent

Quick-Reference: The 10 E-Numbers to Always Check

If you only memorise ten codes, make it these — they are the most commonly encountered animal-derived or ambiguous E-numbers in everyday supermarket products:

E-Number Name Vegan Status Risk Level
E120 Carmine ❌ Never vegan High — very common
E441 Gelatine ❌ Never vegan High — very common
E904 Shellac ❌ Never vegan Medium — confectionery
E901 Beeswax ❌ Not vegan Medium — sweets, fruit
E920 L-Cysteine ❌ Usually not vegan High — all bread
E542 Bone Phosphate ❌ Never vegan Low — powder products
E471 Mono-/Diglycerides ⚠️ Check source High — ubiquitous
E472a–f Ester family ⚠️ Check source Medium — baked goods
E322 Lecithin ⚠️ Check source Medium — chocolate
E570 Fatty Acids ⚠️ Check source Medium — confectionery

Why Memorising This List Isn't Enough

Even with this guide in your pocket, manual E-number checking has real limitations. Ingredient lists change when brands reformulate. Regional variants of the same product can use different E-number sources. And many products pack 15–20 E-numbers per label — checking each one individually while standing in a supermarket aisle is impractical.

The faster approach: photograph the ingredient list with Food Check AI. The app cross-references every E-number, scientific name, and alias against a database of 500+ animal-derived substances — and tells you exactly which ones are a problem and why. No barcode needed. Works on any product in any store, worldwide.