E-Number & Additive Reference

Also: Agar-agar, Kanten, Chinese isinglass…

Extracted from red algae and seaweed, primarily from Gelidium and Gracilaria species. Widely produced in Japan, Chile, and Morocco.

Also: Egg albumin, Egg white, Ovalbumin…

Most commonly derived from egg whites (ovalbumin). Can also be derived from blood serum (serum albumin) or milk.

Also: FD&C Red No. 40, CI 16035, Food Red 17

A synthetic azo dye derived from petroleum. Fully synthetic with no animal product involvement.

Also: Bixin, Norbixin, Annatto extract…

Extracted from the seeds of the Bixa orellana (achiote) tree, native to tropical regions of Central and South America. Entirely plant-derived.

Also: Vitamin C, L-ascorbic acid, Sodium ascorbate (E301)…

Commercially produced by chemical synthesis from glucose (derived from corn or other plant starches). No animal products are used in its production.

Also: Cera alba (white beeswax), Cera flava (yellow beeswax)

Secreted by worker bees to construct honeycomb. Harvested during honey collection; considered an animal product by vegan standards.

Also: Provitamin A, Natural orange colour

Can be derived from: (1) algae, carrots, or other plant sources [vegan], (2) fermentation [vegan], or (3) extracted from fish oil in some pharmaceutical-grade formulations [not vegan]. The vast majority of commercial food-grade beta-carotene is synthetic or plant-derived.

Also: Bone black, Natural carbon, Animal charcoal

Produced by heating cattle bones at very high temperatures until they become a porous carbon filter material. Used in the sugar refining process to decolorize and remove impurities from raw sugar.

Also: Tribasic calcium phosphate (bone source), Animal calcium phosphate

Produced from the bones of slaughtered cattle or pigs, processed into a fine powder used as an anti-caking agent.

Also: Cochineal, Carminic acid, Natural Red 4…

Derived from the dried, crushed bodies of female cochineal insects (Dactylopius coccus). Approximately 70,000 insects are killed per pound of dye.

Also: Brazil wax, Palm wax, Copernicia cerifera wax

Harvested from the leaves of the Copernicia prunifera palm tree native to northeastern Brazil. The leaves are dried and beaten to release the wax.

Also: Irish moss extract, Kappa-carrageenan, Iota-carrageenan…

Extracted from red seaweed (Chondrus crispus and related species), primarily farmed in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Chile. Entirely marine plant-derived.

Also: Sodium caseinate, Calcium caseinate, Milk protein

The primary protein in cow's milk, making up approximately 80% of its protein content.

Also: Chlorophyll a, Chlorophyll b, Chlorophyllins (E141)…

Extracted from plant material — primarily grass, nettles, spinach, or other green plants. The copper complex version (E141) is derived similarly but modified with copper ions.

Also: 2-hydroxypropane-1,2,3-tricarboxylic acid, Sodium citrate (E331), Potassium citrate (E332)

Industrially produced via fermentation of molasses, corn syrup, or other carbohydrates using the fungus Aspergillus niger. No animal products are involved.

Also: Turmeric yellow, Natural yellow 3, CI 75300

Extracted from the rhizome of the turmeric plant (Curcuma longa). Entirely plant-derived.

Also: Diacetyl tartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides, Diacetyltartaric acid ester of monoglyceride

Produced from mono- and diglycerides (which can be plant or animal-derived) reacted with tartaric acid and acetic acid. The vegan status depends entirely on the source of the mono- and diglycerides used — which is almost never declared on the label.

Also: Disodium guanylate + Disodium inosinate mixture, Flavor nucleotides

A mixture of E627 (disodium guanylate) and E631 (disodium inosinate). Both are typically derived from fish or meat.

Also: IMP, Inosinic acid disodium salt

Traditionally derived from fish (sardines, anchovies) or meat. Some fermentation-derived versions exist but are not standard in commercial food production.

Also: Gelatine, Hydrolyzed collagen, Gel

Produced by boiling the skin, bones, and connective tissue of pigs, cattle, or fish. A byproduct of the meat industry.

Also: Glycerol, Glycerine, Propane-1,2,3-triol

Can be derived from: (1) animal fat (tallow or lard) [not vegan], (2) petroleum [vegan], or (3) plant oils like soy, coconut, or palm [vegan]. Source is almost never specified on labels.

Also: Guar flour, Guaran, Cyamopsis tetragonoloba gum

Ground from the endosperm of guar beans (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba), a drought-resistant legume grown primarily in India and Pakistan. Entirely plant-derived.

Also: Acacia gum, Acacia senegal gum

A natural gum harvested from the Acacia senegal and Acacia seyal trees, primarily in Sudan and the Sahel region of Africa. Collected by making cuts in the bark.

Derived from the dried swim bladders of fish (particularly sturgeon, cod, and tropical fish). Used as a clarifying agent.

Also: Cysteine, L-Cysteine hydrochloride

Can be derived from: (1) human hair or duck/pig feathers [not vegan], (2) petroleum byproducts [vegan], or (3) fermented corn [vegan]. Source varies by manufacturer and is rarely specified on labels.

Also: L-(+)-lactic acid, 2-hydroxypropanoic acid, Milk acid

Can be produced from: (1) bacterial fermentation of plant sugars (corn, sugarcane, beet) [vegan], (2) synthetic chemistry [vegan], or (3) historically, from soured dairy milk [not vegan, now rare commercially]. The name 'milk acid' is misleading — the vast majority of commercial lactic acid is produced via fermentation of plant-based carbohydrates.

Also: Milk sugar, 4-O-β-D-galactopyranosyl-D-glucose

The primary sugar found in mammalian milk. Commercially derived as a byproduct of cheese and butter production.

Also: Wool fat, Wool grease, Wool wax…

A wax secreted by the sebaceous glands of wool-bearing animals (primarily sheep). Extracted from raw wool during the sheep-washing process.

Also: Soy lecithin, Egg lecithin, Sunflower lecithin…

Derived from soybeans [vegan], sunflower seeds [vegan], or egg yolks [not vegan]. Soy lecithin is the most common commercial form and is almost always vegan. Egg lecithin is used in some pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications.

Also: Xanthophyll, Vegetable lutein, Egg lutein

Found in green leafy vegetables, marigold flowers (Tagetes erecta), and egg yolks. Commercial lutein used as a food colorant is predominantly extracted from marigold petals [vegan]. Egg-derived lutein exists but is mainly used in pharmaceutical/supplement contexts.

Also: Monoglycerides, Diglycerides, Glycerol monostearate

Can be derived from animal fats (lard, tallow) [not vegan] or vegetable oils (soy, palm, sunflower) [vegan]. Source is almost never declared on the label. Used as an emulsifier to improve texture.

Also: MSG, Sodium glutamate, Aji-no-moto…

Produced industrially by bacterial fermentation of carbohydrates (typically sugarcane molasses, tapioca starch, or corn). The bacterium Corynebacterium glutamicum is the primary production organism.

Also: DHA, EPA, ALA…

Can be derived from: (1) fish oil [not vegan], (2) krill oil [not vegan], or (3) algal oil (microalgae fermentation) [vegan]. Interestingly, fish obtain their omega-3s by eating algae — algal oil bypasses the fish entirely.

Also: Apple pectin, Citrus pectin, Amidated pectin (E440ii)

Extracted from the cell walls of plants, primarily from apple pomace (the solid waste from apple juice production) or citrus peel (from the orange juice industry). Entirely plant-derived.

Also: CI 47005, Food Yellow 13, D&C Yellow 10

A synthetic coal tar dye produced entirely from petrochemicals. No animal products are involved.

Also: Animal rennet, Chymosin, Microbial rennet…

Traditional animal rennet is extracted from the stomach lining of slaughtered calves, lambs, or kid goats [not vegan]. Alternatives include: microbial rennet from fungi/bacteria [vegan], vegetable rennet from plants like nettles or fig sap [vegan], and fermentation-produced chymosin (FPC) [vegan, used in most commercial cheese today].

Also: Vitamin B2, Lactoflavin, Riboflavin-5'-phosphate (E101a)

Can be derived from: (1) fermentation using bacteria or yeast [vegan], (2) animal sources such as whey or egg white [not vegan]. The vast majority of commercial riboflavin used in food and supplements is now produced via fermentation (primarily using Ashbya gossypii, a fungus).

Also: Lac resin, Confectioner's glaze, Resinous glaze…

A resin secreted by the female lac bug (Kerria lacca) found in forests of India and Thailand. Harvested from the bark of trees where bugs deposit the resin.

Also: Benzoate of soda, Benzoic acid sodium salt

Produced synthetically from toluene (a petroleum derivative) via a chemical process. No animal products are involved.

Also: SSL, Calcium stearoyl lactylate (E482)

Produced from stearic acid (which can be animal-derived or plant-derived) reacted with lactic acid and sodium. Stearic acid from animal fat = not vegan; from vegetable oil = vegan. Source is rarely declared.

Also: Potassium sorbate (E202), Calcium sorbate (E203), 2,4-hexadienoic acid

Originally isolated from the berries of Sorbus aucuparia (rowan tree) in 1859. Now produced synthetically from ketene and crotonaldehyde — entirely petrochemical, no animal involvement.

Also: Squalene (unsaturated precursor), Olive squalane, Sugarcane squalane

Historically, squalene (the unsaturated precursor) was extracted from shark liver oil [not vegan]. Today, most commercial squalane is derived from: (1) olive oil [vegan], (2) sugarcane fermentation [vegan], or (3) wheat germ [vegan]. However, shark-derived squalene is still used in some pharmaceutical vaccine adjuvants.

Also: FD&C Yellow No. 6, Orange Yellow S, CI 15985

A synthetic azo dye produced from petrochemicals. Entirely synthetic with no animal-derived components.

Also: Beef tallow, Mutton tallow, Sodium tallowate (in soap)…

Rendered fat from cattle or sheep, produced as a byproduct of the beef and lamb industries.

Also: FD&C Yellow No. 5, CI 19140, Acid Yellow 23

A synthetic azo dye produced entirely from petrochemicals. No animal products are used in its manufacture.

Also: Vitamin E, Alpha-tocopherol (E307), Gamma-tocopherol (E308)…

Found naturally in plant oils (particularly sunflower, soybean, wheat germ, and palm oil) and in animal-derived foods. Commercial food-grade tocopherols are extracted primarily from vegetable oil deodoriser distillate (a byproduct of vegetable oil refining) [vegan]. Some pharmaceutical-grade vitamin E supplements use synthetic dl-alpha-tocopherol [vegan] or natural d-alpha-tocopherol from plant sources [vegan].

Also: Cholecalciferol, Ergocalciferol (D2, vegan form)

Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) is most commonly derived from lanolin (sheep's wool grease) via UV irradiation. A vegan alternative is derived from lichen (algae-fungi organism). Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) is always vegan (yeast-derived).

Also: Whey protein, Whey powder, Milk serum

The liquid byproduct of cheese and yogurt production, derived from cow's milk. Contains lactoglobulin, alpha-lactalbumin, and serum albumin.

Also: Xanthomonas campestris polysaccharide

Produced by bacterial fermentation — specifically, the bacterium Xanthomonas campestris fermenting a carbohydrate substrate (typically corn sugar or glucose). Entirely microbial in origin.