E-Numbers Derived from Animals

These E-numbers are derived from animal sources. Some of their origins genuinely surprise people.

E120

Cochineal

Made from crushed insects — 70,000 per kg of dye

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E441

Gelatine

Derived from boiled pig and cattle bones and skin

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E542

Bone Phosphate

Derived from ground animal bones

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E901

Beeswax

Produced by honeybees — not vegan

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E904

Shellac

Secreted by lac insects to form their cocoons

Full details →

E920

L-Cysteine

Traditionally made from human hair or duck feathers

Full details →

Always animal-derived

No plant-based version exists in food use.

E-Number	Name	Vegan status	Details
E120	Cochineal	Not vegan	Vegan guide
E441	Gelatine	Not vegan	Vegan guide
E542	Bone Phosphate	Not vegan	Vegan guide
E901	Beeswax	Not vegan	Vegan guide
E904	Shellac	Not vegan	Vegan guide
E966	Lactitol	Not vegan	Vegan guide
E1105	Lysozyme	Not vegan	Vegan guide

Often or sometimes animal-derived

Can be plant or animal — the label doesn't say which.

E-Number	Name	Vegan status	Details
E1001	Choline Salts	Check source	Vegan guide
E101	Riboflavin	Check source	Vegan guide
E1100	Amylases	Check source	Vegan guide
E1101	Proteases	Check source	Vegan guide
E1104	Lipase	Check source	Vegan guide
E1518	Glyceryl Triacetate	Check source	Vegan guide
E160a	Beta-Carotene	Check source	Vegan guide
E161b	Lutein	Check source	Vegan guide
E161g	Canthaxanthin	Check source	Vegan guide
E234	Nisin	Check source	Vegan guide
E304	Fatty Acid Esters of Ascorbic Acid	Check source	Vegan guide
E306	Tocopherol-Rich Extract	Check source	Vegan guide
E307	Alpha-Tocopherol	Check source	Vegan guide
E308	Gamma-Tocopherol	Check source	Vegan guide
E309	Delta-Tocopherol	Check source	Vegan guide
E322	Lecithins	Check source	Vegan guide
E422	Glycerol	Check source	Vegan guide
E431	Polyoxyethylene Stearate	Check source	Vegan guide
E432	Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurate	Check source	Vegan guide
E433	Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Mono-Oleate	Check source	Vegan guide
E434	Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monopalmitate	Check source	Vegan guide
E435	Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monostearate	Check source	Vegan guide
E436	Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Tristearate	Check source	Vegan guide
E442	Ammonium Phosphatides	Check source	Vegan guide
E470a	Sodium, Potassium and Calcium Salts of Fatty Acids	Check source	Vegan guide
E470b	Magnesium Salts of Fatty Acids	Check source	Vegan guide
E471	Mono- and Diglycerides of Fatty Acids	Check source	Vegan guide
E472a	Acetic Acid Esters of Mono- and Diglycerides	Check source	Vegan guide
E472b	Lactic Acid Esters of Mono- and Diglycerides	Check source	Vegan guide
E472c	Citric Acid Esters of Mono- and Diglycerides	Check source	Vegan guide
E472d	Tartaric Acid Esters of Mono- and Diglycerides	Check source	Vegan guide
E472e	Mono- and Diacetyl Tartaric Acid Esters	Check source	Vegan guide
E472f	Mixed Acetic and Tartaric Acid Esters	Check source	Vegan guide
E473	Sucrose Esters of Fatty Acids	Check source	Vegan guide
E474	Sucroglycerides	Check source	Vegan guide
E475	Polyglycerol Esters of Fatty Acids	Check source	Vegan guide
E477	Propylene Glycol Esters of Fatty Acids	Check source	Vegan guide
E481	Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate	Check source	Vegan guide
E482	Calcium Stearoyl Lactylate	Check source	Vegan guide
E483	Stearyl Tartrate	Check source	Vegan guide
E491	Sorbitan Monostearate	Check source	Vegan guide
E492	Sorbitan Tristearate	Check source	Vegan guide
E493	Sorbitan Monolaurate	Check source	Vegan guide
E494	Sorbitan Monooleate	Check source	Vegan guide
E495	Sorbitan Monopalmitate	Check source	Vegan guide
E570	Fatty Acids	Check source	Vegan guide
E626	Guanylic Acid	Check source	Vegan guide
E627	Disodium Guanylate	Check source	Vegan guide
E628	Dipotassium Guanylate	Check source	Vegan guide
E629	Calcium Guanylate	Check source	Vegan guide
E630	Inosinic Acid	Check source	Vegan guide
E631	Disodium Inosinate	Check source	Vegan guide
E632	Dipotassium Inosinate	Check source	Vegan guide
E633	Calcium Inosinate	Check source	Vegan guide
E634	Calcium 5-Ribonucleotides	Check source	Vegan guide
E635	Disodium 5-Ribonucleotides	Check source	Vegan guide
E640	Glycine and its Sodium Salt	Check source	Vegan guide
E641	L-Leucine	Check source	Vegan guide
E920	L-Cysteine	Check source	Vegan guide
E927b	Carbamide	Check source	Vegan guide

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Data: Open Food Facts (ODbL) · EFSA. General information only — not medical or dietary advice.