Foods Containing E920 (L-Cysteine)
E920 (L-Cysteine) is a dough improver that can be made by fermentation — but is traditionally derived from feathers or hair, so source matters for vegans and halal consumers. Here's where you're most likely to find it on food labels.
Common foods that contain E920
E920 is used across commercial bread, rolls, pizza bases and baked goods. The foods where it appears most often include:
- Commercial bread and rolls
- Pizza bases
- Bagels
- Baked goods
Exact usage varies by brand and recipe — the only way to know for certain whether a specific product contains E920 is to check its ingredients list, where it must be declared by law, either as "E920" or as "L-Cysteine".
How to spot E920 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 "flour treatment agents: E920" or "flour treatment agents: l-cysteine". In the US the E-number system isn't used, so look for the full name "L-Cysteine" instead.
Should you avoid foods containing E920?
E920 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 E920.
Full guide to E920: 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).