E Numbers with Animal Origins

Understanding E Numbers from Animal Sources

Many food additives approved for use in the UK come from animal sources. For people following vegetarian or vegan diets, or those who avoid animal products for religious or personal reasons, knowing which E numbers fall into this category can be genuinely useful.

Some additives are straightforward. They come from animals and nothing else. Others are more complicated, as manufacturers can produce them from either animal or plant sources depending on cost, availability and production methods.

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E Numbers Generally Derived from Animals

Certain E numbers are traditionally derived from animal sources:

• E120 (Cochineal or Carmine): This red colouring comes from crushed cochineal insects, primarily farmed in South America. You will find it in some sweets, yogurts and drinks.
• E441 (Gelatine): Made from boiled animal bones, skin and connective tissue, usually from pigs or cattle. Common in sweets, desserts and some low fat spreads.
• E542 (Bone Phosphate): Derived from animal bones and used as an anti caking agent.
• E901 (Beeswax): Produced by honeybees and used as a glazing agent on some confectionery and fresh fruit.
• E904 (Shellac): A resin secreted by the lac insect, used to give a shiny coating to sweets and some pharmaceutical tablets.
• E913 (Lanolin): Extracted from sheep wool and occasionally used in food glazing.
• E966 (Lactitol): A sugar alcohol derived from lactose, which comes from milk. Though synthetically produced, its origin remains a dairy product.

If you see any of these on a label, it is likely the product contains something from an animal source.

Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.

E Numbers That May Have Animal Origins

This is where things become less clear. Several common additives can be produced from either animal or plant sources, and the label will not usually tell you which:

• E322 (Lecithin): Often from soya beans, but can come from egg yolks.
• E422 (Glycerol): May be derived from animal fats or vegetable oils.
• E471 (Mono and Diglycerides of Fatty Acids): Widely used in bread and baked goods. Can come from animal or plant fats.
• E472 variants: Similar to E471, these emulsifiers have variable sources.
• E570 (Stearic Acid): Found in some chewing gums and confectionery. May be animal or plant derived.
• E631 (Disodium Inosinate): Traditionally derived from meat or fish, though commercial production now often uses plant sources like tapioca for cost and vegetarian suitability.
• E635 (Disodium Ribonucleotides): Another flavour enhancer with potentially mixed origins.

Products carrying official vegan or vegetarian certification marks, such as those from the Vegetarian Society or Vegan Society, will have been checked for these ambiguous ingredients. However, certification processes focus on overall ingredient assessment rather than documenting the derivation of every individual E number.

How to Find Out for Certain

When the label does not make the source clear, you have a few options. The most direct approach is to contact the manufacturer. Many UK food companies have customer service teams who can confirm the origin of specific ingredients in their products.

Many supermarkets now label own brand products as suitable for vegetarians or vegans, which removes the guesswork. Labelling practices do change over time, so checking directly with your supermarket for current information is worthwhile.

The Food Standards Agency provides general guidance on food labelling requirements in the UK. Food labelling regulations can change, so consulting their website regularly or checking updated resources helps you stay informed.

If you prefer to avoid uncertainty altogether, steering clear of products containing the ambiguous E numbers listed above is a practical solution. This may limit your choices somewhat, but it does provide peace of mind without requiring research into every purchase.

The Next Step

Now that you have read through the advice above, you might want to put it into practice. Our E Number Checker lets you enter an E number or ingredient and find out if it is halal, vegan, or contains animal products. Takes seconds. Try it now →