What it is
E153 is vegetable carbon: very finely ground charcoal made by burning plant material (coconut shells, peat, wood) under controlled conditions.
Why it matters
Gives the black colour to liquorice, cheese rinds (black-rind cheddars), some bread (charcoal sourdough), and ice cream.
What to do
Always vegan. The similar-named "bone char" used in sugar refining is NOT E153 — that's an animal-derived processing aid, not an additive on the label.