Are E-numbers / food additives vegan?

Created on: April 14, 2026
Last edited on: April 14, 2026

The question of whether E-numbers / food additives are vegan cannot be answered with a blanket statement: Many E-numbers are vegan, but some, like carmine or gelatin, come from animal sources. Additionally, there are E-numbers whose origin can be either plant-based or animal-based. Whether a product is vegan therefore depends on the specific origin of the additive.

Disclaimer: E-numbers are mainly used in the European Union to identify approved food additives. In other countries, the same additives are often listed by their common names or different numbering systems. This article uses the term "E-numbers" for simplicity, but the vegan status depends on the ingredient itself, not the labeling system.

E-numbers appear on the ingredient lists of many processed foods. They are difficult for many people to classify, and this creates uncertainty, especially in the context of veganism. Many wonder: Are E-numbers vegan, or do animal ingredients hide behind them?

 

What are E-numbers?

E-numbers are EU-approved additives that are intentionally added to food. They represent tested substances such as preservatives or colorings and are uniformly identified with a code. Their functions are diverse: they extend shelf life, stabilize consistency, facilitate processing, or improve taste and appearance. Without E-numbers, many processed foods would not last as long or would be more difficult to produce. In principle, E-numbers can be vegan, i.e., of plant origin, but also of animal origin.

 

Are E-numbers harmful? 

E-numbers are not inherently bad. Many automatically equate them with "chemical" or "artificial." This is a misconception: First, additives can also be of natural origin.
Second, "chemical" does not necessarily mean bad, and "natural" does not necessarily mean good. Everything is chemistry: from convenience meals to apples - our food consists entirely of chemical compounds. Everything we see, eat, or drink is chemistry. However, the term is often emotionally charged, although it is actually value-neutral. The same happens in reverse with nature: it is often glorified, although it can be cruel and dangerous. You can learn more about this so-called naturalistic fallacy here:
➡️ Is a vegan diet unnatural?

 

Which E-numbers are vegan and which are not?

👉 You can find an overview table at the end of this FAQ.

This is a question many people who live vegan ask themselves. The central challenge is that E-numbers practically fall into 3 categories:

Non-vegan E-numbers 

Which E-numbers are not vegan? The list is actually quite short. A particularly well-known example is E120 carmine. This red coloring is obtained from cochineal insects, which are bred, dried, and processed. It is often found in sweets, drinks, lipsticks, and other red products.

👉 For orientation, here is a clear list of E-numbers of animal origin:

• E120 - Carmine (from cochineal insects)

• E441 - Gelatin (from bones and skin)

• E542 - Bone phosphate (from ground bones)

• E901 - Beeswax

• E904 - Shellac (from lac insects)

• E913 - Lanolin (from sheep's wool)

• E966 - Lactitol (from milk sugar)

Vegan E-numbers 

Which E-numbers are vegan? This includes many plant-based thickeners and minerals.

Examples of typically vegan E-numbers are:

• E300 - Ascorbic acid

• E406 - Agar-agar

• E412 - Guar gum

• E414 - Gum arabic

• E500 - Sodium carbonates

E-numbers with unclear origin 

It gets significantly more difficult with E-numbers that can be produced from both animal and plant sources and thus form a grey area. Reasons are mainly economic factors such as costs and availability of raw materials. The packaging usually does not specify a concrete origin. A typical example is lecithins (E322). Lecithins are so-called emulsifiers. They ensure that substances that do not naturally mix (e.g., water and fat) combine. They can come from vegan sources such as soy, sunflower, or rapeseed, as well as from egg yolk.

Common E-numbers with unclear origin are:

• E322 - Lecithins

• E471 - Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids

• E472(a-f) - Esters of mono- and diglycerides

• E570 - Fatty acids

• E422 - Glycerin

How to identify vegan E-numbers? 

The best way to tell if E-numbers are vegan is by looking for reliable vegan labels. With reputable labels like the Vegan Trademark of the Vegan Society or the V-Label, the origin of ingredients is checked - even for potentially mixed origins like E-numbers. Otherwise, the options are to research, contact the manufacturer, or choose alternatives.

 

Conclusion - Are E-numbers vegan? 

Whether E-numbers are vegan depends on their origin. Many E-numbers are vegan and can be consumed without issues. Some others, like E120 carmine, which is made from cochineal insects, are clearly not vegan. In addition, some additives, especially emulsifiers, are in a grey area. Thus, these E-numbers can be animal-based or plant-based. Here's an overview for your shopping bag:

We understand that the topic might seem confusing at first - but don't panic. Just take our list of non-vegan E-numbers with you when you go shopping. When in doubt, vegan labels provide certainty. Over time, you will recognize non-vegan E-numbers and products more quickly, and purchasing decisions will become much easier 😊

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