Egg Albumin Powder (Wine/Juice Fining) — Hidden Processing Agent — Is It Vegan?
Also known as: Ovalbumin, Dried egg white, Ovoclar
Not Vegan
This processing agent is derived from animals or their byproducts.
Not required on labels
EU law requires wine labels to declare 'contains egg' or 'contains egg products' when egg albumin is used as a fining agent, even if no detectable protein remains. An important allergen disclosure that doubles as a vegan indicator.
Source
Dried and powdered egg whites from hen eggs. Identical protein to egg white but in a concentrated powder form.
Used In
Red wine fining (softens tannins with a gentler action than gelatin — particularly suited to fine Bordeaux and Burgundy), some fruit juice clarification.
How to Avoid
Check wine labels for 'contains egg' allergen declarations. The EU mandatory allergen labelling requirement for egg in wine (since 2012) makes egg-fined wines identifiable.
Editorial Notes
The EU allergen labelling rules for wine (Regulation (EU) 1308/2013 as amended) require that wine producers declare the presence of egg or milk-derived fining agents on the label. This is one of the few cases where vegan consumers benefit directly from allergen legislation — the 'contains egg' or 'contains milk' declaration on a wine bottle is a reliable non-vegan indicator.