What it is
E441 is gelatin: a translucent protein gel produced by boiling the bones, skin, and connective tissue of cattle and pigs. Industry-grade gelatin is also extracted from fish skin and scales.
Why it matters
Gelatin is one of the most widely used animal-derived additives in food. It appears in gummy sweets, marshmallows, fruit pastilles, jelly, mousse, cream cheese, some yoghurts, capsule shells for medication, and as a clarifying agent in fruit juice and wine.
What to do
E441 is never vegan. Labels may also list it as "gelatine", "edible gelatin", or "bovine collagen". Plant-based alternatives include agar (E406), pectin (E440), and carrageenan (E407).