E-Numbers: The Complete Vegan & Vegetarian Cheat Sheet
E-Numbers: The Complete Vegan & Vegetarian Cheat Sheet
European labels code additives as E-numbers, and a handful of those codes are animal-derived. This cheat sheet splits them into always-avoid, check-the-source, and usually-vegan. Here is the full list.
Key Takeaways
- The always-animal E-numbers: E120 (carmine), E441 (gelatin), E904 (shellac), E901 (beeswax), E1105 (lysozyme).
- The ambiguous ones: E322 (lecithin), E471 (mono- and diglycerides), E631 and E635 (flavor enhancers).
- Most other E-numbers are plant-based or synthetic.
- A scanner reads the codes and flags the animal-derived ones against your diet.
TL;DR: A handful of E-numbers are animal-derived: the big ones are E120 (carmine, from insects), E441 (gelatin), E904 (shellac), E901 (beeswax) and E1105 (lysozyme, from egg). Many others are plant-based or “check the source” (E322, E471, E631).
E-numbers are standardized additive codes used on EU and UK labels. Here’s how to sort them by diet.
Always avoid (animal-derived)
| E-number | Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| E120 | Carmine / cochineal | Crushed cochineal insects (red dye) |
| E441 | Gelatin | Animal skin & bones |
| E542 | Edible bone phosphate | Animal bones |
| E901 | Beeswax | Bees |
| E904 | Shellac | Lac insect secretion (glaze) |
| E913 | Lanolin | Sheep’s wool |
| E920 / E921 | L-cysteine / L-cystine | Often human hair or feathers (sometimes synthetic: check) |
| E966 | Lactitol | Dairy |
| E1105 | Lysozyme | Egg white |
Check the source (can be animal OR plant)
| E-number | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| E322 | Lecithin | Usually soy; can be egg |
| E422 | Glycerol / glycerin | Plant, animal or synthetic |
| E471 | Mono- & 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 |
| E626-E635 | Flavor enhancers | E631/E635 can come from meat, fish or yeast |
Usually vegan (plant / mineral / microbial)
E100 (curcumin), E140 (chlorophyll), E150 (caramel), E160a (carotene), E162 (beetroot red), E300 (vitamin C), E306-E309 (vitamin E), E330 (citric acid), E406 (agar), E407 (carrageenan), E410 (locust bean gum), E412 (guar gum), E414 (gum arabic), E415 (xanthan gum), E440 (pectin), E500-E504 (carbonates), E551 (silica).
How to be sure
The fastest way is to scan the product: the Verify Veg app reads the label and flags any ingredient that doesn’t match your diet: including the E-numbers above.
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. Additive sources can vary by manufacturer: always confirm with the brand or vendor.