Reference room The wiki
A field guide to the ingredients behind the verdicts.
When a verdict hinges on a particular ingredient, processing aid, or E-number, the explanation lives here. Each entry covers what it is, why it matters, and what to look for on a label.
E-number
159 entries- Not vegan E901
Beeswax
Wax secreted by honey bees. Not vegan. Used in cosmetics, food glazes, and as a polish.
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- Not vegan E120
Carmine
Red food colouring made by crushing cochineal insects. Not vegan. Common in sweets, drinks, yoghurts, lipsticks.
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- Vegan E100
E100 — Curcumin
Yellow-orange colouring extracted from turmeric root. Vegan.
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- Vegan E101
E101 — Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)
Yellow vitamin used as a colourant. Today almost always microbial-fermented; always vegan in modern production.
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- Vegan E102
E102 — Tartrazine
Synthetic lemon-yellow azo dye. Always vegan.
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- Vegan E104
E104 — Quinoline Yellow
Synthetic yellow dye. Vegan.
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- Vegan E110
E110 — Sunset Yellow FCF
Synthetic orange-yellow azo dye. Vegan.
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- Not vegan E1105
E1105 — Lysozyme
Enzyme extracted from chicken egg white. Not vegan.
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- Not vegan E120
E120 — Carmine
A red colouring made from crushed cochineal insects. Almost always animal-derived.
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- Vegan E1200
E1200 — Polydextrose
Bulking agent and dietary fibre from corn. Vegan.
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- Vegan E122
E122 — Carmoisine (Azorubine)
Synthetic red azo dye. Vegan — not to be confused with E120 carmine which IS animal.
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- Vegan E123
E123 — Amaranth
Synthetic dark-red azo dye. Vegan.
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- Vegan E124
E124 — Ponceau 4R
Synthetic red azo dye. Vegan.
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- Vegan E127
E127 — Erythrosine
Synthetic cherry-pink dye. Vegan.
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- Vegan E129
E129 — Allura Red AC
Synthetic red dye. Vegan.
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- Vegan E131
E131 — Patent Blue V
Synthetic blue dye. Vegan.
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- Vegan E132
E132 — Indigo Carmine (Indigotine)
Synthetic blue dye. Vegan.
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- Vegan E133
E133 — Brilliant Blue FCF
Synthetic blue dye. Vegan.
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- Vegan E140
E140 — Chlorophylls
Green pigment extracted from edible plants. Always vegan.
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- Vegan E1400
E1400 — Dextrin (Modified Starch)
Modified starch from corn, potato, or tapioca. Vegan.
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- Vegan E1404
E1404 — Oxidised Starch
Modified plant starch. Vegan.
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- Vegan E141
E141 — Copper Complexes of Chlorophylls
Copper-stabilised plant chlorophyll. Vegan.
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- Vegan E1410
E1410 — Monostarch Phosphate
Modified plant starch. Vegan.
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- Vegan E1414
E1414 — Acetylated Distarch Phosphate
Modified plant starch. Vegan.
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- Vegan E142
E142 — Green S
Synthetic green dye. Vegan.
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- Vegan E1420
E1420 — Acetylated Starch
Modified plant starch. Vegan.
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- Vegan E1422
E1422 — Acetylated Distarch Adipate
Modified plant starch. Vegan.
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- Vegan E1442
E1442 — Hydroxypropyl Distarch Phosphate
Modified plant starch. Vegan.
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- Vegan E1450
E1450 — Starch Sodium Octenyl Succinate
Modified plant starch. Vegan.
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- Vegan E150
E150 — Caramel
Brown colouring made by heating sugars. Vegan in all four sub-classes (a/b/c/d).
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- Vegan E151
E151 — Brilliant Black BN
Synthetic black diazo dye. Vegan.
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- Vegan E1518
E1518 — Glyceryl Triacetate (Triacetin)
Synthetic glycerol ester. Vegan.
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- Vegan E1521
E1521 — Polyethylene Glycol (PEG)
Synthetic polymer. Vegan.
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- Vegan E153
E153 — Vegetable Carbon (Carbo Medicinalis Vegetalis)
Black pigment from carbonised plant material. Vegan.
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- Vegan E155
E155 — Brown HT
Synthetic brown dye. Vegan.
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- Vegan E160
E160 — Carotenes
Orange-red colourings from carrots, algae, and palm oil. Vegan.
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- Vegan E161b
E161b — Lutein
Yellow xanthophyll pigment from marigolds and green vegetables. Vegan.
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- Vegan E162
E162 — Beetroot Red (Betanin)
Red-purple pigment from beetroot. Always vegan.
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- Vegan E163
E163 — Anthocyanins
Family of red/purple/blue pigments from fruits and vegetables. Vegan.
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- Vegan E170
E170 — Calcium Carbonate
Mineral salt (limestone, chalk). Always vegan.
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- Vegan E171
E171 — Titanium Dioxide
White mineral pigment. Vegan. Banned in EU food since 2022 but still in pharmaceuticals.
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- Vegan E172
E172 — Iron Oxides and Hydroxides
Mineral pigments (yellow, red, black, brown). Vegan.
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- Vegan E173
E173 — Aluminium
Metallic silver colouring. Vegan.
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- Vegan E174
E174 — Silver
Metallic silver decoration. Vegan.
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- Vegan E175
E175 — Gold
Metallic gold decoration. Vegan.
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- Vegan E180
E180 — Litholrubine BK
Synthetic red dye. Vegan. EU-permitted only on cheese rinds.
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- Vegan E200
E200 — Sorbic Acid
Antifungal preservative. Synthetic in modern production. Vegan.
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- Vegan E202
E202 — Potassium Sorbate
Synthetic preservative. Vegan.
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- Vegan E203
E203 — Calcium Sorbate
Synthetic preservative. Vegan.
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- Vegan E210
E210 — Benzoic Acid
Synthetic preservative. Vegan.
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- Vegan E211
E211 — Sodium Benzoate
Synthetic preservative. Vegan.
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- Vegan E212
E212 — Potassium Benzoate
Synthetic preservative. Vegan.
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- Vegan E220
E220 — Sulphur Dioxide
Antimicrobial gas/preservative. Vegan.
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- Vegan E223
E223 — Sodium Metabisulphite
Synthetic sulphite preservative. Vegan.
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- Vegan E249
E249 — Potassium Nitrite
Curing salt. Vegan, but typically used in animal products (cured meats).
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- Vegan E250
E250 — Sodium Nitrite
Curing salt. Vegan. Almost only encountered in cured meats.
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- Vegan E260
E260 — Acetic Acid
Vinegar acid. Always vegan.
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- Vegan E261
E261 — Potassium Acetate
Salt of acetic acid. Always vegan.
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- Vegan E270
E270 — Lactic Acid
Despite the name, modern production is microbial fermentation of plant sugars. Vegan.
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- Vegan E290
E290 — Carbon Dioxide
Carbon dioxide gas. Always vegan.
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- Vegan E296
E296 — Malic Acid
Naturally occurs in apples; commercially synthetic. Vegan.
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- Vegan E300
E300 — Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C)
Vitamin C. Synthetic from corn glucose; always vegan.
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- Vegan E301
E301 — Sodium Ascorbate
Sodium salt of vitamin C. Vegan.
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- Variable E306
E306 — Tocopherol-rich Extract (Vitamin E)
Naturally-extracted vitamin E. Source can be plant (almost always) or, very rarely, animal.
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- Vegan E307
E307 — Alpha-tocopherol
Synthetic vitamin E. Always vegan.
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- Variable E322
E322 — Lecithins
Emulsifier usually from soya, but can also be from egg yolk. Almost always vegan in modern food production.
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- Variable E322
E322(i) / E322(ii) — Lecithin variants
Sub-categories of E322. Same considerations as the parent entry — almost always plant in modern production.
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- Vegan E325
E325 — Sodium Lactate
Sodium salt of lactic acid. Plant-fermented, always vegan.
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- Vegan E326
E326 — Potassium Lactate
Potassium salt of lactic acid. Vegan.
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- Vegan E327
E327 — Calcium Lactate
Calcium salt of lactic acid. Vegan.
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- Vegan E330
E330 — Citric Acid
Citric acid. Produced industrially from mould fermentation of sugar. Vegan.
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- Vegan E331
E331 — Sodium Citrates
Sodium salts of citric acid. Vegan.
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- Vegan E333
E333 — Calcium Citrates
Calcium salts of citric acid. Vegan.
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- Vegan E334
E334 — Tartaric Acid
L(+)-tartaric acid. From wine-making by-products; vegan even when the wine isn't.
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- Vegan E336
E336 — Potassium Tartrate (Cream of Tartar)
Cream of tartar. Vegan.
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- Vegan E338
E338 — Phosphoric Acid
Mineral acid. Vegan.
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- Vegan E339
E339 — Sodium Phosphates
Sodium phosphate salts. Vegan.
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- Vegan E340
E340 — Potassium Phosphates
Potassium phosphate salts. Vegan.
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- Vegan E341
E341 — Calcium Phosphates
Calcium phosphate salts. Vegan, NOT to be confused with E542 bone phosphate.
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- Vegan E375
E375 — Nicotinic Acid (Niacin / Vitamin B3)
Synthetic vitamin B3. Vegan.
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- Vegan E385
E385 — Calcium Disodium EDTA
Synthetic chelating agent. Vegan.
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- Vegan E400
E400 — Alginic Acid
Polysaccharide from brown seaweed. Vegan.
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- Vegan E401
E401 — Sodium Alginate
Sodium salt of alginic acid. Vegan.
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- Vegan E406
E406 — Agar (Agar-agar)
Gelling agent from red seaweed. Always vegan — the classic plant-based gelatin alternative.
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- Vegan E407
E407 — Carrageenan
Polysaccharide from red seaweed. Vegan but with separate health-debate footnote.
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- Vegan E410
E410 — Locust Bean Gum (Carob Gum)
Galactomannan from carob tree seeds. Vegan.
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- Vegan E412
E412 — Guar Gum
Galactomannan from guar bean. Vegan.
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- Vegan E413
E413 — Tragacanth Gum
Polysaccharide gum from the Astragalus shrub. Vegan.
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- Vegan E414
E414 — Gum Arabic (Acacia Gum)
Polysaccharide from Acacia trees. Vegan.
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- Vegan E415
E415 — Xanthan Gum
Polysaccharide from microbial fermentation. Vegan.
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- Vegan E418
E418 — Gellan Gum
Microbial polysaccharide. Vegan.
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- Vegan E420
E420 — Sorbitol
Sugar alcohol from corn starch or fruit. Vegan.
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- Vegan E421
E421 — Mannitol
Sugar alcohol from seaweed or microbial fermentation. Vegan.
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- Variable E422
E422 — Glycerol
Sweet, syrupy liquid used as a humectant. Today almost always plant-derived, but historically animal.
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- Vegan E440
E440 — Pectin
Polysaccharide from fruit peel. Always vegan — a classic plant gelling agent.
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- Not vegan E441
E441 — Gelatin
Protein gel obtained from boiling animal bones, skin, and connective tissue. Not vegan.
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- Vegan E450
E450 — Diphosphates
Polyphosphate salts. Synthetic. Vegan.
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- Vegan E460
E460 — Cellulose
Plant cell-wall fibre. Always vegan.
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- Vegan E461
E461 — Methylcellulose
Methyl ether of cellulose. Vegan — used in plant-based meat alternatives.
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- Vegan E464
E464 — Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose (HPMC)
Modified cellulose. Vegan.
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- Vegan E466
E466 — Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC)
Cellulose gum. Vegan.
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- Variable E471
E471 — Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids
Emulsifier made from glycerol + fatty acids. Source can be plant or animal — usually palm oil today.
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- Variable E472
E472 — Esters of mono- and diglycerides
Family of emulsifiers (a, b, c, d, e, f) derived from glycerol + fatty acids. Source can be plant or animal.
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- Variable E472a
E472a — Acetic acid esters of mono- and diglycerides
Sub-class of E472. Same considerations — usually plant in modern UK production.
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- Variable E472b
E472b — Lactic acid esters
Sub-class of E472. The lactic acid is plant-fermented; the fatty acid is the variable bit.
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- Variable E472e
E472e — DATEM
Diacetyl tartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides — the "DATEM" of mass-market bread.
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- Variable E473
E473 — Sucrose esters of fatty acids
Emulsifier from sugar + fatty acids. Source of fatty acid is the variable bit.
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- Variable E475
E475 — Polyglycerol esters of fatty acids
Emulsifier. Same plant/animal fatty-acid question as E471.
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- Vegan E476
E476 — Polyglycerol Polyricinoleate (PGPR)
Emulsifier from castor-bean oil. Vegan.
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- Variable E477
E477 — Propane-1,2-diol esters of fatty acids
Emulsifier. Same fatty-acid source question as E471.
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- Variable E481
E481 — Sodium stearoyl lactylate
Dough conditioner from lactic acid + stearic acid. Stearic acid can be plant or animal.
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- Variable E482
E482 — Calcium Stearoyl Lactylate
Calcium variant of E481 SSL. Same considerations.
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- Variable E491
E491 — Sorbitan Monostearate
Emulsifier. Stearate source can be plant or animal.
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- Vegan E500
E500 — Sodium Carbonates
Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and related salts. Vegan.
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- Vegan E501
E501 — Potassium Carbonates
Potassium carbonate and bicarbonate. Vegan.
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- Vegan E503
E503 — Ammonium Carbonates
Baker's ammonia. Vegan.
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- Vegan E504
E504 — Magnesium Carbonate
Mineral salt. Vegan.
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- Vegan E508
E508 — Potassium Chloride
Mineral salt. Vegan.
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- Vegan E509
E509 — Calcium Chloride
Mineral salt. Vegan.
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- Vegan E511
E511 — Magnesium Chloride
Mineral salt. Vegan — also known as nigari, the traditional tofu coagulant.
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- Vegan E516
E516 — Calcium Sulphate (Gypsum)
Gypsum. Mineral. Vegan — the other traditional tofu coagulant.
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- Vegan E524
E524 — Sodium Hydroxide
Lye. Vegan.
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- Vegan E525
E525 — Potassium Hydroxide
Caustic potash. Vegan.
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- Vegan E526
E526 — Calcium Hydroxide (Slaked Lime)
Slaked lime. Vegan.
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- Vegan E541
E541 — Sodium Aluminium Phosphate
Synthetic raising agent. Vegan.
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- Not vegan E542
E542 — Bone phosphate
Anti-caking agent made from defatted, steam-degelatinised animal bones. Not vegan.
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- Vegan E551
E551 — Silicon Dioxide (Silica)
Sand / silica. Vegan.
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- Vegan E552
E552 — Calcium Silicate
Mineral silicate. Vegan.
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- Vegan E553a
E553a — Magnesium Silicate / Trisilicate
Mineral silicate. Vegan.
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- Vegan E553b
E553b — Talc
Mineral talc. Vegan.
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- Vegan E555
E555 — Potassium Aluminium Silicate
Mineral silicate. Vegan.
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- Variable E570
E570 — Stearic acid (fatty acids)
Fatty acid used as a thickener and emulsifier. Plant or animal source.
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- Vegan E575
E575 — Glucono Delta-lactone (GDL)
Lactone of gluconic acid. Vegan.
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- Vegan E576
E576 — Sodium Gluconate
Sodium salt of gluconic acid. Vegan.
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- Vegan E620
E620 — Glutamic Acid
Amino acid produced by microbial fermentation. Vegan.
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- Vegan E621
E621 — Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)
Sodium salt of glutamic acid. Plant-fermented today; always vegan.
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- Vegan E627
E627 — Disodium 5'-guanylate
Flavour enhancer. Microbial fermentation today; vegan.
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- Not vegan E631
E631 — Disodium 5'-inosinate
Flavour enhancer typically made from fish or meat. Almost always animal-derived.
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- Variable E635
E635 — Disodium 5'-ribonucleotides
Flavour enhancer blend. Often partly animal-derived (E631 component).
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- Vegan E900
E900 — Dimethylpolysiloxane
Silicone-based anti-foaming agent. Vegan.
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- Not vegan E901
E901 — Beeswax
Wax secreted by honey bees to build honeycomb. Not vegan.
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- Vegan E902
E902 — Candelilla Wax
Wax from candelilla shrub. Plant-sourced — vegan.
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- Vegan E903
E903 — Carnauba Wax
Wax from carnauba palm leaves. Plant-sourced — vegan.
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- Not vegan E904
E904 — Shellac
A resin secreted by the female lac bug. Used as a glaze on confectionery, fruit, tablets, and cosmetics.
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- Vegan E905
E905 — Microcrystalline Wax
Petroleum-derived wax. Vegan.
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- Not vegan E913
E913 — Lanolin
Yellow waxy substance secreted by sheep wool glands. Not vegan.
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- Not vegan E920
E920 — L-cysteine
Dough conditioner historically made from duck or chicken feathers, human hair, or animal hides. Almost always animal-derived.
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- Vegan E950
E950 — Acesulfame K
Synthetic sweetener. Vegan.
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- Vegan E951
E951 — Aspartame
Synthetic dipeptide sweetener. Vegan.
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- Vegan E954
E954 — Saccharin
Synthetic sweetener — the original artificial one. Vegan.
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- Vegan E955
E955 — Sucralose
Chlorinated sugar derivative. Vegan.
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- Vegan E957
E957 — Thaumatin
Protein sweetener from katemfe fruit. Plant-sourced — vegan.
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- Vegan E960
E960 — Steviol Glycosides
Sweetener from stevia leaves. Plant-sourced — vegan.
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- Vegan E961
E961 — Neotame
Synthetic sweetener derived from aspartame. Vegan.
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- Vegan E962
E962 — Aspartame–Acesulfame Salt
Co-crystallised aspartame + acesulfame. Vegan.
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- Vegan E965
E965 — Maltitol
Sugar alcohol from maltose. Plant-sourced — vegan.
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- Not vegan E966
E966 — Lactitol
Sugar alcohol produced from lactose — a dairy by-product. Not vegan.
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- Vegan E967
E967 — Xylitol
Sugar alcohol from birch bark or corn cobs. Vegan.
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- Vegan E968
E968 — Erythritol
Sugar alcohol from corn fermentation. Vegan.
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Ingredient
4 entries- Not vegan
Gelatin
Protein boiled from animal bones, hides, and connective tissue. Not vegan. Used as a gelling agent in sweets, desserts, and pills.
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- Not vegan
Isinglass
A fining agent derived from fish swim bladders. Common in beer and wine clarification.
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- Not vegan
Lanolin
Greasy wax extracted from sheep wool. Not vegan. Used in cosmetics, skin creams, and some vitamin D supplements.
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- Variable
Vitamin D3
Can be lanolin-derived (from sheep's wool) or lichen-derived (vegan). The label rarely says which.
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