A plain-language, one-sentence answer for every common food additive and E-number vegans need to know. Each entry answers the exact question people search for — is [ingredient] vegan? — without padding.
Never Vegan — Always Animal-Derived
These ingredients have no approved plant-based version under the same name or E-number code.
Carmine · Cochineal / Natural Red 4 / CI 75470
Is E120 vegan? No — carmine is a red dye made from crushed cochineal insects; it is never vegan regardless of how it appears on the label.
Also listed as: cochineal, cochineal extract, crimson lake, natural red 4, carminic acid, CI 75470 Found in: red fruit juices, yogurts, jams, candy, lipstick, processed meats, some medicationsGelatin · Gelatine / Hydrolysed Collagen
Is gelatin vegan? No — gelatin is made by boiling animal bones, skin, and connective tissue; it is never vegan.
Also listed as: gelatine, gelatin, hydrolysed collagen, collagen peptides, bovine gelatin Found in: gummies, marshmallows, panna cotta, capsule shells, coated nuts, some wines and beersShellac · Confectioner's Glaze / Candy Glaze
Is shellac vegan? No — shellac is a resinous secretion from the female lac insect used as a glossy coating; it is never vegan.
Also listed as: shellac, confectioner's glaze, candy glaze, pharmaceutical glaze, resinous glaze Found in: shiny candy, chocolate coatings, waxed apples and citrus, sprinkles, some supplementsBeeswax · White Beeswax / Yellow Beeswax
Is beeswax vegan? No — beeswax is produced by honeybees and is excluded from the vegan diet under most recognised vegan definitions.
Also listed as: beeswax, cera flava, cera alba, E901 Found in: confectionery coatings, waxed fruit, chewing gum, supplementsBone Phosphate · Edible Bone Phosphate
Is bone phosphate vegan? No — E542 is an anti-caking agent derived from animal bones; it is never vegan.
Also listed as: edible bone phosphate, calcium phosphate (bone-derived) Found in: powdered spice blends, dry mixes, some bone meal supplementsCasein · Sodium Caseinate / Caseinate
Is casein vegan? No — casein is a milk protein derived from cow's milk; it is never vegan, even when it appears in products labelled "non-dairy."
Also listed as: casein, sodium caseinate, calcium caseinate, potassium caseinate, milk protein Found in: non-dairy creamers, some protein powders, processed cheese, coffee whiteners, margarineIsinglass · Fining Agent
Is isinglass vegan? No — isinglass is a fining agent made from dried fish bladders used to clarify beer and wine; it is never vegan.
Also listed as: isinglass, fish gelatin (fining) Found in: beer, cider, wine — not always declared on the label as most countries do not require fining agent disclosureWhey · Whey Powder / Whey Protein
Is whey vegan? No — whey is a by-product of cheese-making derived from cow's milk; it is never vegan.
Also listed as: whey, whey powder, whey protein, whey protein concentrate, whey protein isolate, sweet whey, acid whey Found in: protein bars, baked goods, bread, crackers, processed foodsLanolin · Wool Grease / Vitamin D3 Source
Is lanolin vegan? No — lanolin is a waxy substance secreted by the skin glands of wool-bearing animals; Vitamin D3 in most supplements is derived from lanolin and is not vegan.
Also listed as: lanolin, wool wax, wool grease, cholecalciferol (when animal-derived) Found in: chewing gum (as a softener), some supplements (as D3 source), cosmeticsAmbiguous — Check the Manufacturer
These E-numbers can be made from plant or animal sources. The label will not tell you which was used.
Mono- and Diglycerides of Fatty Acids · Common Emulsifier
Is E471 vegan? Not always — E471 can be made from plant oil (vegan) or animal fat (not vegan); the label does not specify the source.
Also listed as: mono- and diglycerides, glyceryl monostearate, E471 Found in: bread, margarine, ice cream, peanut butter, baked goods — one of the most common additives in processed foodEsters of Mono- and Diglycerides · DATEM / Acetic / Lactic / Citric Esters
Is E472 vegan? Not always — this family of emulsifiers shares E471's ambiguity; plant- or animal-derived fat can be used and the label does not distinguish.
Also listed as: DATEM, acetic acid esters of monoglycerides, lactic acid esters, citric acid esters, diacetyl tartaric acid esters Found in: bread, pastries, cakes, whipped toppings, margarineLecithin · Soy Lecithin / Egg Lecithin
Is lecithin vegan? Usually yes — most commercial lecithin is soy-derived (vegan), but it can come from egg yolks; if the label says only "lecithin" without specifying soy or sunflower, egg-derived is possible.
Also listed as: lecithin, soy lecithin, sunflower lecithin, egg lecithin, E322 Found in: chocolate, margarine, baked goods, processed foodsL-Cysteine · Dough Conditioner
Is L-cysteine (E920) vegan? Usually not — it is most commonly sourced from poultry feathers or human hair; synthetic L-cysteine exists but labels give no indication of which source was used.
Also listed as: L-cysteine, cysteine, E920, E910, E921 Found in: packaged bread, bagels, pizza dough, pastries, fast food bunsFatty Acids · Stearic Acid / Palmitic Acid
Is E570 vegan? Not always — fatty acids can be plant-derived (vegan) or from animal tallow (not vegan); the label gives no indication of source.
Also listed as: fatty acids, stearic acid, palmitic acid, E570 Found in: chewing gum, confectionery coatings, some baked goodsGlycerol · Glycerine / Glycerin
Is glycerol vegan? Usually yes — 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, liqueursAlbumin · Egg White / Blood Albumin
Is albumin vegan? No — albumin is a protein derived from egg whites or blood serum; it is never vegan regardless of source.
Also listed as: albumin, egg albumin, blood albumin, ovalbumin, serum albumin Found in: baked goods, noodles, some wine (as fining agent)Always Vegan — Reliably Plant-Based or Synthetic
These E-numbers do not require ingredient-by-ingredient checking — no animal source is used in their production.
| 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 | Bacterial fermentation (plant sugars) | Acidity regulator |
| E300 | Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) | Synthetic / plant | Antioxidant |
| E330 | Citric Acid | Fermentation / citrus | 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 |
Can't Find Your Ingredient Here?
This reference covers the most commonly searched additives. For the full database of 500+ animal-derived substances — including regional aliases, scientific names, and product-specific flags — photograph the ingredient list with Food Check AI. The app reads every E-number, scientific name, and alias and gives you an instant verdict, with an explanation of why each ingredient is or isn't suitable for your diet.
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Related reading: E-Numbers Vegan Guide · 12 Hidden Animal Ingredients · How to Read Vegan Food Labels
