Ozone (Surface Treatment) — Hidden Processing Agent — Is It Vegan?
Also known as: O₃, Ozonated water, Ozone washing
Vegan
No animals or animal-derived substances are involved in producing this agent.
Not required on labels
Not required on labels. Ozone decomposes to oxygen and leaves no residue.
Source
Generated from oxygen by electrical discharge. Entirely inorganic.
Used In
Fresh produce washing and sanitisation (kills bacteria and extends shelf life without chemical residues), water treatment in food processing, surface sanitisation, storage atmosphere treatment.
How to Avoid
No need to avoid — ozone is vegan.
Editorial Notes
Ozone is a powerful sanitising agent approved by the FDA as GRAS for direct food contact applications. It is particularly effective against E. coli, Salmonella, and Listeria. Ozone washed produce is not chemically treated in the conventional sense — the ozone decomposes completely to oxygen within minutes. Used in organic farming as a non-chemical alternative to chlorine washing.