Foods Containing E441 (Gelatine)
E441 (Gelatine) is gelatine — made by boiling animal bones, skin and connective tissue. Not vegan, not vegetarian, and haram unless certified. Here's where you're most likely to find it on food labels.
Common foods that contain E441
E441 is used across bread, margarine, chocolate, ice cream, cakes and processed foods. The foods where it appears most often include:
- Gummy sweets
- Marshmallows
- Jelly
- Some yoghurts and desserts
- Capsule shells
Exact usage varies by brand and recipe — the only way to know for certain whether a specific product contains E441 is to check its ingredients list, where it must be declared by law, either as "E441" or as "Gelatine".
How to spot E441 on a label
In the UK and EU, additives must appear in the ingredients list with their function and either their E-number or full name — for example "emulsifiers: E441" or "emulsifiers: gelatine". In the US the E-number system isn't used, so look for the full name "Gelatine" instead.
Should you avoid foods containing E441?
E441 is considered safe. It is authorised across the EU, UK and US, and safety evaluations by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) have not identified health concerns at the levels used in food. For most people there is no reason to avoid E441.
Full guide to E441: safety, vegan and halal status →
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Additive data sourced from Open Food Facts (ODbL licence) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).