Food Additives to Look Out For

KEY: Red – Not vegan; Grey – Possibly of animal origin

E-Number	Additive Name
120	Cochineal, Carminic acid, Carmines Natural Red 4 - Colouring
153	Carbon Black – Colouring Likely derived from various parts of animals unless otherwise described as Vegetable Carbons.
161g	Canthaxanthin (Natural Orange Colour Xanthophylls) - Colouring. Canthaxanthin is usually derived from plant material, but it can sometimes be made from fish and invertebrates with hard shells.
252	Potassium Nitrate (Saltpetre) - Preservative Saltpetre is usually assumed to be of natural origins but it can be artificially manufactured from waste animal matter.
270	Lactic Acid - Antioxidant Can be obtained from whey (from milk)
322	Lecithins - Emulsifier and Stabilizer Some Lecithin contains egg yolks. Other sources of Lecithin are soy. Lecithin can also be directly obtained from animal fat. Check with manufacturer.
325	Sodium Lactate - Antioxidant Sodium Lactate is the salt of Lactic Acid. (see E270 above)
326	Potassium Lactate - Antioxidant / Acidity Regulator Another type of salt derived from Lactic Acid. (see E270 above)
327	Calcium Lactate - Antioxidant Another type of salt derived from Lactic Acid. (see E270 above)
422	Glycerol (Humectant, Solvent, Sweet Glycerin) - Sweetener Mostly from animal fats, unless otherwise stated.
430-436	Polyoxyethylene - Emulsifiers / Stabilisers E430 Polyoxyethylene (8) stearate (Emulsifier / Stabiliser) E431 Polyoxyethylene (40) stearate (Emulsifier) E432 Polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monolaurate (polysorbate 20 Emulsifier) E433 Polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monooleate (polysorbate 80 Emulsifier) E434 Polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monopalmitate (polysorbate 40 Emulsifier) E435 Polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monostearate (polysorbate 60 Emulsifier) E436 Polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan tristearate (polysorbate 65 Emulsifier) Not likely of animal origin as these additivies are normally derived from various types of fruit. But it’s worth checking with manufacturers the exact origins of the ingredients.
441	Gelatine - Emulsifier / Gelling Agent Gelatine is derived from animal skin and hoofs. It can be found in many kinds of confectionery, jellies and other sweets.
442	Ammonium phosphatides - Emulsifier Can sometimes be made using Glycerol (see 422 above).
469	Sodium caseinate – Emulsifier/Stabiliser Derived from milk
470a	Sodium, potassium and calcium salts of fatty acids – Emulsifier / Anti-caking Agent Derived from fatty acids, may originate from animal sources.
470b	Magnesium Stearate – Emulsifier / Anti-caking Agent Derived from fatty acids, may originate from animal sources.
471	Mono- and Diglycerides of fatty acids (glyceryl monostearate, glyceryl distearate) – Emulsifier May contain animal fats.
472a-f	E472 A to F are emulsifiers related to the mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids family: E472a Acetic acid esters E472b Lactic acid esters E472c Citric acid esters E472d Tartaric acid esters E472e Mono- and diacetyl tartaric acid esters E472f Mixed acetic and tartaric acid esters Because the E472 family is derived from Glycerine (Glycerol) (see E422 above), they may contain animal fats.
473	Sucrose esters of fatty acids – Emulsifier May be derived from animals.
474	Sucroglyceride – Emulsifier May be derived from animals.
475	Polyglycerol esters of fatty acids – Emulsifier May be derived from animals.
476	Polyglycerol Polyricinoleate – Emulsifier May contain animal fats.
477	Propane-1, 2-diol esters of fatty acids, propylene glycol esters of fatty acids – Emulsifier May contain animal fats.
478	Lactylated fatty acid esters of glycerol and propane-1 – Emulsifier May contain animal fats.
479b	Thermally oxidized soya bean oil interacted with mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids – Emulsifier May contain animal fats.
481	Sodium Stearoyl-2-lactylate – Emulsifier Can be obtained from whey and may contain animal fats.
482	Calcium Stearoyl-2-lactylate – Emulsifier Can be obtained from whey and may contain animal fats.
483	Stearyl tartrate – Emulsifier May contain animal fats.
491	Sorbitan monostearate – Emulsifier and Stabilizer From stearic acid and is used in dried yeast. Stearic acid is found in both vegetable and animal fats, but commercial production is usually synthetic. Check with manufacturer. See also 570
492	Sorbitan Tristearate – Emulsifier See 491
493	Sorbitan Monolaurate – Emulsifier See 491
494	Sorbitan Monooleate – Emulsifier See 491
495	Sorbitan Monopalmitate – Emulsifier See 491
542	Bone phosphate – Anti-caking agent
570	Stearic Acid Fatty Acid – Anti-caking agent Stearic acid is found in vegetable and animal fats, but commercial production is usually synthetic. Often used in dried yeast.
572	Magnesium stearate, calcium stearate – Emulsifier and Anti-caking agent See 570
585	Ferrous lactate – Colouring May be derived from animal source such as whey. (see 270)
627	Disodium guanylate – Flavour enhancer Almost always made from fish
630	Inosinic acid - Flavour enhancer Almost always made from animals and fish
631	Disodium inosinate - Flavour enhancer Almost always made from animals and fish
635	Disodium 5'-ribonucleotides - Flavour enhancer Often made from animals
640	Glycine and its sodium salt - Flavour enhancer Can sometimes be prepared from gelatine, but can be made synthetically.
901	Beeswax - white and yellow - Glazing Agent
904	Shellac - Glazing Agent From a resin secreted by an insect called the lac beetle.
910	L-cysteine - Improving agent Produced commercially from animal and human hair (and feathers). L-cysteine is used as an additive in around 5% of bread and other bakery products. It is not used in wholemeal bread or other wholemeal bakery products.
913	Lanolin Wax from sheep excreted by the skin of sheep and extracted from the wool.
920	L-cysteine hydrochloride - Improving agent Produced from L-cysteine (see 910 above).
921	L-cysteine hydrochloride monohydrate - Improving agent Produced from L-cystine (see 910 above).
966	Lactitol - Sweetener Derived from Lactose, commercially prepared using whey.
1105	Lysozyme - Enzyme From eggs.

Further information can be found on the following websites:

http://www.veggieglobal.com/nutrition/non-vegetarian-food-additives.htm

http://www.vegsoc.org/page.aspx?pid=727