Food Additives

Riboflavin

Also known as vitamin B2. Typically vegan as it's commercially derived from microbial fermentation, natural yeast extraction or chemical synthesis, but could also be produced from milk or eggs. Check with manufacturer.

Quinoline Yellow

Common use Colours

Synthetic food colorant. May involve the use of gelatine as a carrier.

Cochineal Carminic Acid Carmines Natural Red 4

Never Vegan

Common use Colours

Canthaxanthin Natural Orange Colour Xanthophylls

Common use Colours

Usually derived from plant material, but it can sometimes be made from fish and invertebrates with hard shells.

Calcium Carbonate

Common use Anti-caking Agent Surface Coating Filling Agent

The most common source is mineral-based, however, it may be derived from the shells of marine organisms, snails, or egg shells.

Potassium Nitrate Saltpetre

Common use Preservative

Saltpetre is usually assumed to be of natural origins but it can be artificially manufactured from waste animal matter.

Lactic Acid

Common use Antioxidant

Most commonly produced through bacterial fermentation of carbohydrates, but can be obtained from whey (from milk). Product label will state any allergens, like milk.

Lecithins

Common use Emulsifier Stabilizer

Primarily sourced from soybeans, sunflowers, or canola. Can be derived from egg yolks. Product label should clarify whether it's from plant or animal origin.

Sodium Lactate

Common use Antioxidant Preservative

A type of salt derived from Lactic Acid.

See also 270

Potassium Lactate

Common use Antioxidant Acidity Regulator

A type of salt derived from Lactic Acid.

See also 270

Calcium Lactate

Common use Antioxidant

A type of salt derived from Lactic Acid.

See also 270

Ammonium Lactate

Common use Acidity Regulator

A type of salt derived from Lactic Acid.

See also 270

Magnesium Lactate

Common use Acidity Regulator Firming Agent

A type of salt derived from Lactic Acid.

See also 270

Xanthan Gum

Common use Thickener Stabiliser

Typically derived from bacterial fermentation, however, in some rare cases egg-derived lysozymes may be used in the manufacturing process.

Glycerol Humectant Solvent Sweet Glycerin

Common use Sweetener

Can be derived from plant or animal fats, or synthetically. 

Polyoxyethylene (8) Stearate

Common use Emulsifier Stabiliser

Can be derived from vegetable oils, animal fats, or synthetic production methods.

Polyoxyethylene (40) Stearate

Common use Emulsifier Stabiliser

Can be derived from vegetable oils, animal fats, or synthetic production methods.

Polyoxyethylene (20) Sorbitan Monolaurate

Common use Emulsifier Polysorbate 20 Emulsifier

Mainly from plant sources but can be derived from animals fats.

Polyoxyethylene (20) Sorbitan Monooleate

Common use Emulsifier Polysorbate 80 Emulsifier

Generally from plants or synthetic production, but can be derived from animal fats.

Polyoxyethylene (20) Sorbitan Monopalmitate

Common use Emulsifier Polysorbate 40 Emulsifier

Mainly from plant sources but can be derived from animals fats.

Polyoxyethylene (20) Sorbitan Monostearate

Common use Emulsifier Polysorbate 60 Emulsifier

Generally from plants or synthetic production, but can be derived from animal fats.

Polyoxyethylene (20) Sorbitan Tristearate

Common use Emulsifier Polysorbate 65 Emulsifier

Typically produced from plant or petrochemical source, but can be derived from animal fats.

Gelatine

Never Vegan

Common use Emulsifier Gelling Agent Thickener

Gelatine is derived from animal skin and hoofs. It can be found in many kinds of confectionery, jellies and other sweets.

Ammonium Phosphatides

Common use Emulsifier

Can be derived from plant, mineral or animal sources.

See also 422

Sodium Caseinate

Never Vegan

Common use Emulsifier Stabiliser

Derived from dairy milk.

Sodium of fatty acids Potassium of fatty acids Calcium Salts of fatty acids

Common use Emulsifier Anti-caking Agent

Can be derived from plant-based oils or animal fats.

Magnesium Stearate

Common use Emulsifier Anti-caking Agent

Derived from stearic acid, which comes from either animal fats or plant oils.

Mono- and Diglycerides of fatty acids glyceryl monostearate glyceryl distearate

Common use Emulsifier

Can be derived from plant oils or animal fats.

Acetic acid esters Lactic acid esters Citric acid esters Tartaric acid esters Mono- and diacetyl tartaric acid esters Mixed acetic and tartaric acid esters

Common use Emulsifier

Can be derived from plant oils or animal fats.

See also 422

Sucrose esters of fatty acids

Common use Emulsifier

Can be derived from plant oils or animal fats.

Sucroglyceride

Common use Emulsifier

Can be derived from plant oils or animal fats.

Polyglycerol esters of fatty acids

Common use Emulsifier

Can be derived from plant oils or animal fats.

Polyglycerol Polyricinoleate

Common use Emulsifier

May contain animal fats.

Propane-1 2-diol esters of fatty acids propylene glycol esters of fatty acids

Common use Emulsifier

May contain animal fats.

Lactylated fatty acid esters of glycerol and propane-1

Common use Emulsifier

May contain animal fats.

Thermally oxidized soya bean oil interacted with mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids

Common use Emulsifier

May contain animal fats.

Sodium Stearoyl-2-lactylate

Common use Emulsifier Stabiliser

Can be derived from animal sources.

Calcium Stearoyl-2-lactylate

Common use Emulsifier

Can be derived from animal sources.

Stearyl Tartrate

Common use Emulsifier

May contain animal fats.

Stearyl Citrate

Common use Emulsifier

Produced by the esterification of citric acid with stearyl alcohol. The stearyl acid can be either plant or animal fat, though usually it is derived from vegetable oil.

Sorbitan Monostearate Sorbitan Tristearate Sorbitan Monolaurate Sorbitan Monooleate Sorbitan Monopalmitate

Common use Emulsifier Stabiliser

From stearic acid, which can be derived from either vegetable or animal fats, however, commercial production is usually synthetic. Check with the manufacturer.

See also 570

Bone phosphate

Never Vegan

Common use Anti-caking Agent

A calcium phosphite compound derived from animal bones.

Stearic Acid Fatty Acid

Common use Anti-caking Agent

Can be derived from either vegetable or animal fats, but commercial production is usually synthetic. Often used in dried yeast. Check with the manufacturer.

Magnesium Stearate Calcium Stearate

Common use Emulsifier Anti-caking Agent

Can be derived from plants, whey (dairy), or synthetic sources.

See also 570

Ferrous Lactate

Common use Colours

May be derived from animal source such as whey.

See also 270

Disodium Guanylate Disodium 5-Guanylate Disodium 5'-Guanylate

Common use Flavour enhancer

Can be derived from plant sources or fish. Check with the manufacturer.

Inosinic Acid

Common use Flavour enhancer

Can be produced synthetically but almost always made from animals or fish. Check with the manufacturer.

Disodium Inosinate Disodium 5-Inosinate Disodium 5'-Inosinate

Common use Flavour enhancer

Almost always made from animals or fish. Can also be produced from tapioca starch extract. Check with the manufacturer.

Disodium 5-Ribonucleotides Disodium 5'-Ribonucleotides

Common use Flavour enhancer

Can be derived from plant sources, or meat or fish.

Glycine Glycine sodium salt

Common use Flavour enhancer

Can be derived from gelatine (animal bones and connective tissues), but can be made synthetically. Check with the manufacturer.

Beeswax Beeswax white and yellow

Never Vegan

Common use Glazing agent

A product derived from the work of bees.

Shellac

Never Vegan

Common use Glazing agent

From a resin secreted by an insect called the lac beetle. Many beetles are killed when the resin is collected.

L-cysteine L-cysteine Hydrochloride L-cysteine Hydrochloride Monohydrate

Common use Improving agent

Produced commercially from feathers, animal and human hair. They can be synthetically produced or derived from plant materials, however, most are from animal sources.

Lanolin

Never Vegan

Common use Wax

Wax from sheep excreted by the skin of sheep and extracted from their wool.

Lactitol

Never Vegan

Common use Sweetener

Produced from milk sugar (lactose), commercially prepared using whey.

Cholic acid

Never Vegan

Common use Emulsifier

A bile acid that is usually conjugated with glycine or taurine. Most commonly extracted from cows or ox.

Lysozyme

Never Vegan

Common use Enzyme

Derived from eggs.