E-Numbers vs US Ingredient Names: Reading Imported Labels
E-Numbers vs US Ingredient Names: Reading Imported Labels
The same additive has two names depending on which side of the Atlantic the package came from. Europe prints a code, like E120. The United States prints a name, like carmine. If you eat vegan or vegetarian and buy imported food, you need to read both, because the animal-derived ingredients hide behind whichever system the label happens to use.
Key Takeaways
- Europe uses E-number codes for additives; the US uses plain names or the vague “natural flavors.”
- The same ingredient appears as E120 in Europe and carmine (or cochineal extract) in the US.
- Key mappings: E441 = gelatin, E904 = shellac, E322 = lecithin, E1105 = lysozyme, E920 = l-cysteine.
- A scanner reads both systems and flags the animal-derived ones against your diet.
TL;DR: Europe codes additives as E-numbers, and the US spells them out. Learn the mapping between the two, and you can spot animal-derived ingredients on either label.
The two systems
The European Union assigns every approved food additive a code, the E-number. The United States instead requires the additive’s common name, and also allows the catch-all “natural flavors,” which can hide animal-derived ingredients entirely. That difference is why a chocolate bar bought in Berlin and one bought in Chicago list the same dye differently.
The cross-reference that matters
For a vegetarian or vegan, the animal-derived additives are the ones worth memorizing:
| E-number | US name |
|---|---|
| E120 | Carmine / cochineal extract |
| E441 | Gelatin |
| E542 | Edible bone phosphate |
| E901 | Beeswax |
| E904 | Shellac / confectioner’s glaze |
| E920 / E921 | L-cysteine / L-cystine |
| E966 | Lactitol (dairy) |
| E1105 | Lysozyme (egg) |
Some codes are ambiguous in both systems, like E322 (lecithin), which can be soy or egg, and E471 (mono- and diglycerides), which can be plant or animal fat. For these, the code alone is not enough in either system.
Why this matters for imported food
Imported products keep their home country’s labeling. A snack imported from the EU lists E120, while a domestic version lists carmine. If you only know the US names, you miss the EU ones, and vice versa. The same problem appears with “natural flavors,” which in the US can legally include animal sources without naming them.
How to check either label
- Learn the animal-derived E-numbers and their US names, using the table above.
- Treat “natural flavors” on a US label as ambiguous.
- For imported products, read the ingredient list in the original language, not just the sticker.
- Scan the product. A scanner reads both E-numbers and plain names and flags the animal-derived ones against your diet.
See our E-numbers cheat sheet for the full list of animal-derived additives in both systems.
The bottom line
The same animal-derived ingredient has an E-number in Europe and a plain name in the US. Learn the mapping, or let a scanner read both for you. That removes the Atlantic divide from label reading.
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), reading both E-numbers and plain names. 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.