Animal-Derived E-Numbers: The Quick Reference List
Animal-Derived E-Numbers: The Quick Reference List
European labels code additives as E-numbers, and a handful of those codes are animal-derived. This is the short list to keep handy when you are reading a label and want to know whether an additive is vegan or vegetarian.
Key Takeaways
- The always-animal E-numbers: E120 (carmine), E441 (gelatin), E542 (bone phosphate), E901 (beeswax), E904 (shellac), E1105 (lysozyme).
- The ambiguous ones: E322 (lecithin), E422 (glycerol), E471 (mono- and diglycerides), E631 and E635 (flavor enhancers).
- A scanner reads the E-numbers and flags the animal-derived ones against your diet.
TL;DR: A short list of E-numbers are animal-derived, and a second list are ambiguous. Save both lists, or let a scanner check the label for you.
Always animal-derived
These E-numbers are animal products by definition:
| E-number | Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| E120 | Carmine / cochineal | Cochineal insects |
| E441 | Gelatin | Animal skin and bones |
| E542 | Edible bone phosphate | Animal bones |
| E901 | Beeswax | Bees |
| E904 | Shellac | Lac insect |
| E913 | Lanolin | Sheep wool |
| E920 / E921 | L-cysteine / L-cystine | Often hair or feathers (sometimes synthetic) |
| E966 | Lactitol | Dairy |
| E1105 | Lysozyme | Egg white |
If one of these is on the label, the product is not vegan, and most are not vegetarian either.
Ambiguous (plant or animal)
These E-numbers can come from either source, and the label will not tell you which:
| E-number | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| E322 | Lecithin | Usually soy, sometimes egg |
| E422 | Glycerol / glycerin | Plant, animal or synthetic |
| E471 | Mono- and diglycerides | Plant or animal fat |
| E472a-f | Fatty-acid esters | Plant or animal |
| E475 / E476 | Polyglycerol esters | Plant or animal |
| E481 / E482 | Stearoyl lactylates | May be animal-derived |
| E631 / E635 | Flavor enhancers | Meat, fish or yeast |
| E570 | Stearic acid | Plant or animal |
For these, a “vegan” certification logo is the practical way to resolve the ambiguity.
How to use this list
- Scan the label for the always-animal codes first.
- For the ambiguous ones, look for a vegan logo or contact the brand.
- Remember that a single animal code disqualifies the whole product.
- Scan the product. A scanner app reads the E-numbers and flags the animal-derived ones against your diet.
See our E-numbers cheat sheet for the full breakdown with the plant-based alternatives.
The bottom line
A short list of E-numbers are animal-derived, and a second list are ambiguous. Keep both handy, or let a scanner check the label. That is the difference between guessing and knowing on a European label.
Check before you eat. The Verify Veg app scans a barcode or reads an ingredient list from a photo and flags ingredients against your diet (vegan, vegetarian, halal, kosher, Jain and more). Download on the App Store - Android is coming soon.
Written by Samir Narain, founder of Verify Veg. Verify Veg helps people check packaged food against their diet by scanning barcodes and reading ingredient lists from photos.
Note: Verify Veg provides ingredient-based compatibility checks, not certification. Ingredient sources can vary by manufacturer, so always confirm with the brand or vendor.