Complete E-Number Guide for Vegans

Most E-numbers are vegan. A small set always comes from animals: E120 (carmine), E441 (gelatin), E901 (beeswax), E904 (shellac), and E542 (bone phosphate). Others, including E471, E322, E631, and E920, can be plant- or animal-derived, and labels rarely say which.

Below is a working reference for the codes vegans ask about most, why some are hard to judge, and a practical process for checking any product you pick up.

How E-numbers appear on labels

E-numbers are codes for food additives approved for use in the European Union. The "E" stands for Europe. Each code identifies a specific substance: a colour, preservative, emulsifier, sweetener, or other functional ingredient.

Manufacturers use E-numbers on ingredient lists throughout the EU and in many other countries. Australia and New Zealand use INS numbers that often match E-numbers (E300 and INS 300 are both ascorbic acid). The US typically lists additive names instead of codes ("ascorbic acid" rather than E300), but the underlying substances are often the same.

E-numbers are not a vegan certification system. They tell you what additive is present, not where it came from. E471 always means mono- and diglycerides, but those fats can be made from palm oil, rapeseed, or animal fat.

Are all E-numbers vegan?

No. Most are, but several categories routinely cause problems. Colours from insects or animals include carmine (E120) and cochineal extract. Gelling agents from collagen include gelatin (E441). Glazing agents from insects or bees include shellac (E904) and beeswax (E901). Minerals from bones include bone phosphate (E542). Emulsifiers and fats with undisclosed origin include E471, E472, and E476. Flavour enhancers with possible animal origin include disodium inosinate (E631) and L-cysteine (E920).

The majority of E-numbers (acids, plant gums, mineral salts, and synthetic colours) are vegan by origin. The difficulty is knowing which code falls into which group without looking each one up.

E-numbers that are usually vegan

These additives are plant-derived, mineral, or synthetically produced. They do not require animal ingredients in standard production.

E322 (lecithin) appears here because soy and sunflower lecithin dominate commercial use, but egg lecithin exists. See the source-dependent section below if the label does not specify plant lecithin.

E-numbers that are never vegan

These codes always or almost always indicate animal-derived ingredients. Avoid them unless a product is explicitly certified vegan and the certifier has verified the source.

E120: Carmine / Cochineal

E120 is a red pigment extracted from crushed cochineal insects (Dactylopius coccus). It takes roughly 70,000 insects to produce one pound of dye. You will find it in yoghurts, pink drinks, confectionery, cosmetics, and some meat substitutes that use it for colour.

Labels may also list it as "carmine," "cochineal," "natural red 4," or "crimson lake." There is no plant-based version of E120.

E441: Gelatin

E441 is gelatin, collagen boiled from animal skin, bones, and connective tissue, usually pork or beef. It sets liquids into a gel and appears in gummy sweets, marshmallows, jelly desserts, some yoghurts, and capsule shells.

Plant alternatives include agar (E406), pectin (E440), and carrageenan (E407). If a product gels and lists E441, it is not vegan.

E901: Beeswax

E901 is wax secreted by honey bees. It is used as a glazing agent on sweets, nuts, and fruit, and as a stiffener in cosmetics. Standard vegan definitions exclude bee products, including honey and beeswax.

E904: Shellac

E904 is a resin secreted by the lac insect (Kerria lacca). US labels often call it "confectioner's glaze" or "resinous glaze" instead of naming shellac directly. It gives a shiny coating to candy, pills, and fresh produce.

E542: Edible Bone Phosphate

E542 is calcium phosphate extracted from animal bones, used as an anti-caking agent and calcium source in some flours and dry mixes. It is uncommon on modern labels but still permitted in the EU.

E120, E441, E901, E904, and E542 are never vegan. No manufacturing variation changes their animal origin.

When the E-number alone is not enough

These additives can be made from plant or animal raw materials. The E-number alone does not tell you which.

Is E471 vegan?

E471 is one of the most common uncertain additives for vegans. It emulsifies water and fat in bread, margarine, ice cream, and baked goods. Commercial production usually uses vegetable oils (palm, rapeseed, soy), but animal fat sources are permitted and not declared on labels.

Vegan-certified products must use plant sources. For uncertified products, contact the manufacturer or use our E-Number Checker and Ingredient Checker.

Is E322 (lecithin) vegan?

E322 is usually soy or sunflower lecithin, both vegan. Egg lecithin is less common but exists, especially in some baked goods and chocolate. Labels that say "soy lecithin" or "sunflower lecithin" are fine. Unspecified "lecithin" on a non-certified product is uncertain.

Is E631 vegan?

E631 is a flavour enhancer often paired with disodium guanylate (E627) in savoury snacks. It can be produced by fermentation (vegan) or extracted from meat and fish (not vegan). Labels do not distinguish between production methods.

Is E920 (L-cysteine) vegan?

E920 is an amino acid used as a dough conditioner in commercial bread. It can be synthesised (vegan), fermented (vegan), or extracted from duck feathers and hog hair (not vegan). Most large bakeries now use synthetic L-cysteine, but the source is rarely printed on packaging.

Why E-numbers trip up vegans

Three structural problems make E-numbers harder to judge than plain ingredient names.

First, codes hide the source. "E471" tells you nothing about whether the fat came from palm or tallow. Regulatory approval covers the chemical function, not the raw material, so the same code can cover different origins.

Second, labels differ by region. A product sold in Germany may list E-numbers while the US version lists the same additives by name, or omits some entirely. Processing aids used during production may not appear on the label if they are not present in the final food.

Third, "vegetarian" does not mean vegan. E-numbers like E901 (beeswax) may appear in products marketed to vegetarians.

None of this means E-numbers are useless. They are precise once you know how to read them. They just require a lookup step that plain words like "milk" or "gelatin" do not.

E-numbers vs ingredient names by country

Manufacturers can choose how to declare additives depending on local law. In the EU, E-numbers or full names are both allowed, and many brands use E-numbers on processed foods. The UK follows similar rules post-Brexit. In the US, common or chemical names are standard ("Yellow 5" instead of E102, "ascorbic acid" instead of E300). Australia and New Zealand use INS numbers, which align with E-numbers for most additives.

The same substance can appear under multiple names on one label: "mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids (E471)" is one ingredient, not two. If you see a name without a code, look up the name. Our Ingredient Checker handles both formats.

Checking E-numbers on a label

Start with the full ingredients list from the package in your hand, not an online summary, which may be outdated or country-specific. Scan for known non-vegan codes: E120, E441, E901, E904, E542. If any appear, the product is not vegan.

Flag source-dependent codes for follow-up: E471, E472, E322 (if unspecified), E631, E920. Look up unfamiliar codes with our E-Number Checker or the additives database.

Vegan certification on the packaging matters here. Certified products must use plant sources for ambiguous additives. If source-dependent codes appear on something you eat regularly, one email to the manufacturer often produces a permanent answer. Ask specifically: "Are the mono- and diglycerides (E471) from plant or animal sources?" Generic customer service replies may be vague; follow up if needed.

Formulations change without warning. A bread that was vegan last year may not be today, so it is worth re-reading labels on staples you buy often.

The codes people look up most

Based on common supermarket products, these are the E-numbers our users search for most often: E471 (bread, margarine, ice cream emulsifier), E322 (lecithin in chocolate and baked goods), E120 (red colour in drinks and dairy alternatives), E441 (gelatin in sweets and desserts), E904 (candy glaze), E920 (bread dough conditioner), E631 (savoury snack flavour enhancer), and E901 (beeswax coating).

EU regulation vs other countries

The EU maintains a positive list of permitted food additives with assigned E-numbers. Substances not on the list cannot be sold as food additives in the EU. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) evaluates safety; vegan status is not part of that assessment.

Other regions maintain separate lists with different numbering. The US FDA lists GRAS substances and approved food additives by name, not E-code. Codex Alimentarius provides international INS numbers used as a reference standard. The UK retained EU additive rules with domestic enforcement.

An additive banned in the EU may still be legal elsewhere, and vice versa. Evaluate the label on the product you are buying in your country.

E-numbers and vegan certification

Vegan certification goes further than reading E-numbers. A certifying body (V-Label, The Vegan Society, Certified Vegan) verifies that every ingredient, including source-dependent additives, comes from non-animal sources.

Certification does not replace your own judgment for everyone. Some vegans accept products without certification if the ingredient list is clear. Others prefer certification for any processed food with E471 or E322.

Uncertified products with only clearly vegan E-numbers (E300, E330, E415, etc.) are generally acceptable to most vegans. Uncertified products with E471 or unspecified lecithin remain a personal call.

Mistakes worth avoiding

Many E-numbers are not synthetic chemicals. E160a (carotene) comes from carrots; E500 is baking soda. E322 is usually vegan, but egg lecithin exists. Carmine and gelatin are not allergens and may not be highlighted even when milk and egg allergens are absent.

Brands reformulate, so old forum posts go stale quickly. On nutrition panels in some countries, "E" means kilocalories; on ingredient lists, E### is an additive code. "No artificial additives" does not mean vegan: natural additives include carmine (E120) and beeswax (E901).

Quick reference

For a full ingredient list at once, paste it into our Animal Ingredient Detector.

When to email the manufacturer

Contact the brand when a product you buy weekly contains E471, unspecified lecithin, or E920 and lacks vegan certification. Large supermarket own-label brands in the UK and EU increasingly publish allergen and suitability information online, so check the brand website before emailing.