Identifying food additives
It can be difficult to determine if some types of additives are derived from animals or not. This is because it all depends on how the additive has been manufactured in the first place. In Europe and Australia food additives are listed by a labelling system called "E Numbers". However, the use of E Numbers on ingredients lists has become unfashionable, particularly in the UK. This is because the representation of E Numbers tend to be associated with the negative health affects on the consumer. Psycologically, it seems that printing out the full name of the additive (even though the additve names themselves seem completly "foreign" and unpronouncable!), gives the consumer more confidence about their purchase.
Below is a list of additives arranged by their E Numbers, which either always contain animals or those which sometimes may - depending on how the additive was sourced to begin with. All other E Numbers not listed here are to the best of the knowledge always vegetarian.
Numbers with a * means that the additive is definitely
of animal origin.
All other numbers are sometimes and therefore possibly from animal origin.
All other numbers are sometimes and therefore possibly from animal origin.
E Number
|
Additive Name
|
* 120
|
Cochineal,
Carminic acid, Carmines Natural Red 4 - colouring
A colouring that makes many foods red. Found in alcoholic drinks,
fruit pie fillings, jams, many sweets and even cheeses. Cochineal is made
from the female insect found on cacti called Dactylopius Coccus. She is
boiled alive or left to "cook" alive through sun exposure.
Cochineal is the result of crushing scales of the insect into a red powder.
|
153
|
Carbon Black, Vegetable Carbons - colouring
If the description on product packaging says "Vegetable
Carbons", then it is most likely free of animal derivatives. (but could
be derived from GM crops!) But if the additive is described as "Carbon
Black", it 's more likely to be derived from various parts of animals.
|
161g
|
Canthaxanthin (Natural Orange Colour Xanthophylls) - colouring.
Be aware that although Canthaxanthin is usually derived from plant
material, it can sometimes be made from fish and invertebrates with hard
shells.
|
252
|
Potassium Nitrate (Saltpetre) - Preservative
Saltpetre is usually assumed to be of natural origins but it can be
artificially manufactured from waste animal matter. Potassium nitrate is
often found in smoked type cheeses - so even if the cheese contains vegetable
rennet and not animal rennet, it may contain potassium nitrate made from
animal waste, so check with the cheese manufacturer to determine the source
of the potassium nitrate.
|
270
|
Lactic Acid -
Antioxidant
Can be obtained from whey so Vegan's should determine the source of
the ingredient by contacting manufacturers. Lactic Acid can be found in
carbonated drinks, beer, dressings and various tinned products.
|
322
|
Lecithins - Emulsifier and Stabilizer
Some Lecithin contains egg yolks so not suitable for Vegans. Other
main sources of Lecithin are from soya bean oil and is likely to be
genetically modified (if sourced from countries such as the US) Lecithin can
also be directly obtained from animal fat.
|
325
|
Sodium Lactate - Antioxidant
Sodium Lactate is the salt of Lactic Acid. (see E270 above)
|
326
|
Potassium Lactate - Antioxidant / Acidity Regulator
Another type of salt derived from Lactic Acid. (see E270 above)
|
327
|
Calcium Lactate - Antioxidant
Another type of salt derived from Lactic Acid. (see E270 above)
|
422
|
Glycerol (Humectant,
Solvent, Sweet Glycerin) - Sweetener
There is contention surrounding the origins of Glycerol. Through
various industrial reselling practices, a majority of glycerine originates as
a by-product of soap manufacturing. Many soaps are manufactured using animal
fats. This indicates that even though glycerine occurs naturally in plants,
what ends up in food and soap products mostly originates from animals.
|
430 - 436
|
Polyoxyethylene - Emulsifiers and Stabilisers
E numbers 430 to 436 are various types of polyoxyethlene:
E430 Polyoxyethylene (8) stearate (Emulsifier / Stabiliser)
E431 Polyoxyethylene (40) stearate (Emulsifier) E432 Polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monolaurate (polysorbate 20 Emulsifier) E433 Polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monooleate (polysorbate 80 Emulsifier) E434 Polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monopalmitate (polysorbate 40 Emulsifier) E435 Polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monostearate (polysorbate 60 Emulsifier) E436 Polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan tristearate (polysorbate 65 Emulsifier)
These additives are very unlikely to originate from animals as they
are normally derived from various types of fruit. It may still be worth
checking with manufactures as to the exact origins of the ingredients which
make up these Emulsifiers and stabilisers.
|
* 441
|
Gelatine - Emulsifier / Gelling Agent
You may not find this E number 441 on food ingredients listings
anymore because instead of an additive, Gelatine has now been classed as food
(made of animal skin and hoofs) in it's own right. Remember, all types of
gelatine are animal based and can be found in dairy products like yoghurts, plus
many kinds of confectionery, jellies and other sweets.
|
442
|
Ammonium phosphatides - Emulsifier
Amonium phosphatides can sometimes be made using Glycerol (see 422
above) Therefore the finished additive may contain animal fat.
|
470a
|
Sodium, potassium and calcium salts of fatty acids - Emulsifier /
Anti-caking Agent
As 470 is derived from fatty acids, these may originate from animal
sources.
|
470b
|
Magnesium Stearate - Emulsifier / Anti-caking Agent
This is another magnesium salt from fatty acids and like 470a, may
originate from animal sources.
|
471
|
Mono- and Diglycerides of fatty acids (glyceryl monostearate,
glyceryl distearate) - Emulsifier
Because E471 is derived from Glycerine (Glycerol) (see E422 above),
there may be a slim chance that E471 might contain animal fats.
|
472 a - f
|
E472 A to F are emulsifiers related to the mono- and diglycerides of
fatty acids family:
E472a Acetic acid esters
E472b Lactic acid esters E472c Citric acid esters E472d Tartaric acid esters E472e Mono- and diacetyl tartaric acid esters E472f Mixed acetic and tartaric acid esters
Because the E472 family is derived from Glycerine (Glycerol) (see E422
above), there may be a slim chance that any of these might contain animal
fats.
|
473
|
Sucrose esters of fatty acids - Emulsifier
E473 is a sucrose ester of E471, being fatty acids, which may be
derived from animals.
|
474
|
Sucroglyceride - Emulsifier
E474 is a glyceride of sucrose ester of E471, being fatty acids, which
may be derived from animals.
|
475
|
Polyglycerol esters of fatty acids - Emulsifier
Being an ester of fatty acids which may be derived from animals.
|
476
|
Polyglycerol Polyricinoleate - Emulsifier
As this is produced from glycol esters the glycerol can be sourced
from a by-product of animal fats in the manufacturing of soap.
|
477
|
Propane-1, 2-diol esters of fatty acids, propylene glycol esters of
fatty acids -
Emulsifier
The glycol esters of fatty acids can be sourced from a by-product of
animal fats in the manufacturing of soap.
|
478
|
Lactylated fatty acid esters of glycerol and propane-1 - Emulsifier
See 477 above
|
479b
|
Thermally oxidized soya bean oil interacted with mono- and
diglycerides of fatty acids - Emulsifier
See 471 above
|
481
|
Sodium Stearoyl-2-lactylate - Emulsifier
See 471 above and 270 (contains Lactic Acid and Stearic Acid)
|
482
|
Calcium Stearoyl-2-lactylate - Emulsifier
See 471 above and 270 (contains Lactic Acid and Stearic Acid)
|
483
|
Stearyl tartrate - Emulsifier
See 471 above
|
491
|
Sorbitan monostearate - Emulsifier and Stabilizer
From stearic acid and is used in dried yeast. Stearic acid is found in
vegetable and animal fats, but commercial production is usually synthetic.
See also 570
|
492
|
Sorbitan Tristearate - Emulsifier
See 491
|
493
|
Sorbitan Monolaurate - Emulsifier
See 491
|
494
|
Sorbitan Monooleate - Emulsifier
See 491
|
495
|
Sorbitan Monopalmitate - Emulsifier
See 491
|
* 542
|
Bone phosphate - Anti-caking agent
|
570
|
Stearic Acid Fatty Acid - Anti-caking agent
Stearic acid is found in vegetable and animal fats, but commercial
production is usually synthetic. Often used in dried yeast.
|
572
|
Magnesium stearate, calcium stearate - Emulsifier and Anti-caking
agent
See Stearic Acid 570
|
585
|
Ferrous lactate - Colouring
A lactate is a compound formed when a mineral is bound to lactic acid.
This is why additives named as a lactate may have been derived from an animal
source such as whey. (see 270)
|
* 631
|
Disodium inosinate - Flavour enhancer
Almost always made from animals and fish
|
* 635
|
Disodium 5'-ribonucleotides - Flavour enhancer
Often made from animals
|
640
|
Glycine and its sodium salt - Flavour enhancer
Can sometimes be prepared from gelatine.
|
901
|
Beeswax - white and yellow - Glazing Agent
Not suitable for Vegans.
|
904
|
Shellac - Glazing Agent
Shellac is a resin secreted by an insect called the lac bug Laccifer
lacca Kerr (Coccidae) . It is often unclear as to whether the insect is
killed in the process of commercially obtaining shellac as the resin is left
by the insect on various plants. Whether this resin is harvested as a residue
or extracted by directly killing the insects needs further investigation.
|
910
|
L-cysteine - Improving agent
Produced commercially from animal and human hair (and feathers). When
produced from animal hair it is almost certain that all L-cysteine is taken
from slaughtered animals. When human hair is used it is often sourced from
women in third-world countries. L-cysteine is used as an additive in around
5% of bread and other bakery products. It is not used in wholemeal bread or
other wholemeal bakery products.
|
920
|
L-cysteine hydrochloride - Improving agent
Produced from L-cystine (see 910 above)
|
921
|
L-cysteine hydrochloride monohydrate - Improving agent
Produced from L-cystine (see 910 above)
|
966
|
Lactitol - Sweetener
Derived from Lactose, commercially prepared using whey, so unsuitable
for vegans.
|
Preservative ingredients that are typically Non-Vegetarian:
carmine
carminic acid
cis-9-octadecenoic acid
cochineal
dripping
gelatin
Hi-Vegi-Lip
hydrogenated tallow
isinglass
keratin
lard
lard oil
lipase
myristic acid
n-hexadecanoic acid
n-tetradecanoic acid
olei
pancreatic extract
pancreatin
pepsin
pork fat
pork oil
suet
tallow
tallow flakes
trypsin
Preservative ingredients that may or may not be Non-Vegetarian:
activated carbon
adipic acid
calcium stearate
cane sugar
capric acid
clarifier
clarifying agent
colorose
fat
fatty acid
fining agent
folacin
folic acid
free-flow agent
hexanedioic acid
inversol
invert sugar
invert sugar syrup
magnesium stearate
modified food starch
modified starch
natural flavor
n-decanoic acid
n-octadecanoic acid
Olean
Olestra
polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monooleate
polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monostearate
polysorbate
polysorbate 60
polysorbate 80
processing aid
protein
pteroyl glutamic acid
refined sugar
rennet
rennin
retinol
stearic acid
sucrose
sucrose polyester
sugar
sugar syrup, invert
vitamin A
vitamin A acetate
vitamin A palmitate
vitamin A propionate
Hope the above information will the vegetarians to know whether they are really not eating any non-vegetarian dish.
The following posts are also good for vegetarians to read:
1. Vegetarians should not to consume food items with Varakh (Silver Foil) on it
2. Must Read for vegetarians who eat from food chain like McDonalds etc
3. Famous vegetarian personalities and their thoughts
