Dietary Suitability
Halal and Vegan E-Numbers: 71 Additives Checked
An E-number names what an additive does, not what it is made from. Vegan, vegetarian and halal status for 71 additives, and the eleven whose source varies.
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Quick answer
An E-number is a function code, not a source code. E471 is the classification for mono- and diglycerides whether the fat came from palm oil or from tallow, which is why no list can tell you a packet is halal or vegan from the number alone. Of the 71 additives profiled here, 60 have no source ambiguity at all and 11 genuinely depend on the manufacturer.
Key takeaways
- The E-number describes the job the additive does. Two batches with different source materials carry the same number.
- Only eleven of these 71 additives have any source ambiguity. For the other sixty the answer does not vary by manufacturer.
- E471, E422, E472e, E433, E435, E631 and E441 are the ones worth checking. They are also the ones most often listed with a fixed status they do not have.
- A halal, vegan, or vegetarian certification mark already resolves the source, because verifying it is part of the certification.
- Without a mark, the ingredient list cannot settle an ambiguous additive. The manufacturer can, and large brands usually publish a standing answer.
- Carmine (E120) is the one entry here that is animal derived in every commercial batch, so no manufacturer check will change it.
Step-by-step workflow
- 1Find the additive in the table below and read the final column, which names the thing that decides its status.
- 2If the row says the status does not depend on the source, you are done. The number settles it.
- 3If the row names a source that varies, look for a halal, vegan, or vegetarian certification mark on the pack first.
- 4With a mark present, treat the question as answered. Certification requires the source of every ambiguous additive to be verified.
- 5With no mark, check the manufacturer website before contacting them. Brands asked this often publish the answer in their FAQ.
- 6Record the answer against the brand rather than the additive, because the same E-number can be sourced differently by a different maker.
The number is a job description, not an origin
The European numbering system classifies additives by the function they perform. E471 means mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids, which is a family of emulsifiers that hold fat and water together. It is assigned on the basis of what the molecule does in the food, and the molecule is the same whether the fatty acid came from palm oil or from beef tallow.
That single fact explains why circulating lists disagree with each other. A list that prints E471 as halal and a list that prints it as haram are both describing real batches. Neither is describing the packet in your hand.
It also explains why the question is narrower than it looks. Most additives have only one commercially viable source. Citric acid is made by fermenting sugar with a mould, and there is no animal route in industrial production, so E330 does not vary. Ambiguity is the exception, and it is concentrated in the emulsifiers, the gelling agents, and the flavour enhancers.
Dietary status of 71 common additives
Every additive profiled on this site appears below with its vegan, vegetarian, and halal status and the factor that determines it. Where the final column names a source, the status varies by manufacturer and the number alone will not answer the question.
| Code | Additive | Vegan | Vegetarian | Halal | What decides it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E100 | Curcumin | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not source-dependent |
| E102 | Tartrazine (Yellow 5) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not source-dependent |
| E104 | Quinoline Yellow | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not source-dependent |
| E110 | Sunset Yellow FCF (Yellow 6) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not source-dependent |
| E120 | Carmine (cochineal) | No | No | No | Insect derived, always |
| E122 | Carmoisine (Azorubine) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not source-dependent |
| E124 | Ponceau 4R | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not source-dependent |
| E127 | Erythrosine (Red 3) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not source-dependent |
| E129 | Allura Red AC (Red 40) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not source-dependent |
| E131 | Patent Blue V | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not source-dependent |
| E133 | Brilliant Blue FCF (Blue 1) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not source-dependent |
| E140 | Chlorophylls and chlorophyllins | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not source-dependent |
| E141 | Copper complexes of chlorophylls | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not source-dependent |
| E153 | Vegetable carbon | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not source-dependent |
| E160a | Carotenes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not source-dependent |
| E160b | Annatto (bixin and norbixin) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not source-dependent |
| E160d | Lycopene | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not source-dependent |
| E161b | Lutein | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not source-dependent |
| E162 | Beetroot Red (Betanin) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not source-dependent |
| E163 | Anthocyanins | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not source-dependent |
| E172 | Iron oxides and hydroxides | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not source-dependent |
| E173 | Aluminium | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not source-dependent |
| E175 | Gold | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not source-dependent |
| E200 | Sorbic acid | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not source-dependent |
| E202 | Potassium sorbate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not source-dependent |
| E210 | Benzoic acid | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not source-dependent |
| E211 | Sodium benzoate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not source-dependent |
| E216 | Propylparaben | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not source-dependent |
| E220 | Sulphur dioxide and sulphites | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not source-dependent |
| E249 | Potassium nitrite | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not source-dependent |
| E250 | Sodium nitrite | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not source-dependent |
| E251 | Sodium nitrate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not source-dependent |
| E260 | Acetic acid | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not source-dependent |
| E296 | Malic acid | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not source-dependent |
| E300 | Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not source-dependent |
| E320 | Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not source-dependent |
| E321 | Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not source-dependent |
| E322 | Lecithins | Depends on maker | Yes | Yes | Soya or sunflower (vegan query only: refining aid) |
| E330 | Citric acid | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not source-dependent |
| E385 | Calcium disodium EDTA | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not source-dependent |
| E392 | Extracts of rosemary | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not source-dependent |
| E410 | Locust bean gum (carob gum) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not source-dependent |
| E412 | Guar gum | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not source-dependent |
| E414 | Acacia gum (gum arabic) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not source-dependent |
| E420 | Sorbitol | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not source-dependent |
| E422 | Glycerol (glycerine) | Depends on maker | Depends on maker | Depends on maker | Plant oil, tallow, or fermentation |
| E433 | Polysorbate 80 | Depends on maker | Depends on maker | Depends on maker | Oleic acid source |
| E435 | Polysorbate 60 | Depends on maker | Depends on maker | Depends on maker | Stearic acid source |
| E441 | Gelatine | No | No | Depends on maker | Pig, cattle, or fish |
| E471 | Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids | Depends on maker | Depends on maker | Depends on maker | Plant oil or animal fat |
| E472e | DATEM | Depends on maker | Depends on maker | Depends on maker | Inherits the E471 fat source |
| E476 | Polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not source-dependent |
| E500 | Sodium carbonates | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not source-dependent |
| E509 | Calcium chloride | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not source-dependent |
| E524 | Sodium hydroxide | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not source-dependent |
| E551 | Silicon dioxide | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not source-dependent |
| E553b | Talc | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not source-dependent |
| E620 | Glutamic acid | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not source-dependent |
| E621 | Monosodium glutamate (MSG) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not source-dependent |
| E631 | Disodium inosinate | Depends on maker | Depends on maker | Depends on maker | Fermentation, fish, or meat |
| E900 | Dimethylpolysiloxane | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not source-dependent |
| E901 | Beeswax | No | Yes | Yes | Honeybee derived |
| E903 | Carnauba wax | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not source-dependent |
| E904 | Shellac | No | Depends on maker | Depends on maker | Insect resin; harvest method |
| E950 | Acesulfame K | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not source-dependent |
| E952 | Cyclamate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not source-dependent |
| E955 | Sucralose | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not source-dependent |
| E960 | Steviol glycosides | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not source-dependent |
| E967 | Xylitol | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not source-dependent |
| E968 | Erythritol | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not source-dependent |
| E1200 | Polydextrose | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not source-dependent |
The eleven that depend on the maker
These are the entries worth spending attention on. For each one, the determining factor is a specific raw material rather than a general uncertainty, which means there is a specific question to ask.
E471 and the emulsifiers built on it
E471 is the most widely used emulsifier in packaged food, and it is the source of most of the confusion in this area. European and North American production runs mainly on palm, soy, sunflower, and rapeseed oil. Animal fat is used in some production, particularly outside those regions. The finished molecule is identical, which is precisely why the label cannot distinguish them.
E472e (DATEM) is made by reacting mono- and diglycerides with tartaric and acetic acid, so it inherits whatever fat source E471 started from. Polysorbate 60 (E435) and polysorbate 80 (E433) are separate molecules but carry the same problem in a different part: the stearic acid in E435 and the oleic acid in E433 can each come from plant or animal fat.
E631, where the traditional route is the animal one
Disodium inosinate was originally extracted from dried sardines, and that route is still in use. The modern industrial route ferments it, which produces a suitable product for every diet considered here. Fish-derived E631 is generally acceptable under most halal rulings but not to vegetarians or vegans, so the same batch can answer one question and fail another.
This additive appears constantly in instant noodles and savoury snacks, usually paired with E627. Large manufacturers in this category are asked about it often enough that the answer is frequently published.
E441 and E120, the two that are not really open questions
Gelatine is animal derived in every case. Pig skin is the largest single source worldwide, cattle hide and bone follow, and fish gelatine exists and is used specifically where pork must be avoided. So it is never vegan or vegetarian, and its halal status turns entirely on species and slaughter method rather than on whether it is animal derived.
Carmine is extracted from dried cochineal insects and there is no plant route in commercial production. It is the one entry in this table where contacting the manufacturer cannot change the answer. Its acceptability under halal rulings varies by school of thought rather than by batch, which is a different kind of question from the one this page can settle.
| Code | Additive | The deciding factor | Vegan | Halal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E120 | Carmine (cochineal) | Insect derived, always | No | No |
| E322 | Lecithins | Soya or sunflower (vegan query only: refining aid) | Depends on maker | Yes |
| E422 | Glycerol (glycerine) | Plant oil, tallow, or fermentation | Depends on maker | Depends on maker |
| E433 | Polysorbate 80 | Oleic acid source | Depends on maker | Depends on maker |
| E435 | Polysorbate 60 | Stearic acid source | Depends on maker | Depends on maker |
| E441 | Gelatine | Pig, cattle, or fish | No | Depends on maker |
| E471 | Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids | Plant oil or animal fat | Depends on maker | Depends on maker |
| E472e | DATEM | Inherits the E471 fat source | Depends on maker | Depends on maker |
| E631 | Disodium inosinate | Fermentation, fish, or meat | Depends on maker | Depends on maker |
| E901 | Beeswax | Honeybee derived | No | Yes |
| E904 | Shellac | Insect resin; harvest method | No | Depends on maker |
Settling an ambiguous additive on a real packet
The practical route is shorter than it looks, because the first step resolves most cases.
- Look for a certification mark before reading the ingredient list. A halal, vegan, or vegetarian mark means the source of every ambiguous additive in the product has already been verified by the certifier. The mark answers the question the code cannot.
- Treat a plain 'suitable for vegetarians' statement from the manufacturer the same way. In the UK that wording carries legal weight under consumer protection rules, so it is a claim the brand has to stand behind.
- If there is no mark, search the brand name with the additive code before writing to anyone. Emulsifier and gelatine questions are asked often enough that the answer is usually already on the company FAQ.
- When you do contact a manufacturer, ask about the specific product rather than the additive. A company may source E471 from plant oil in one line and from tallow in another.
- Keep the answer against the brand and product, not the E-number. The next product with E471 on the label is a separate question.
Why the circulating lists disagree
A large fraction of the halal and vegan E-number lists online trace back to a small number of documents compiled decades ago, copied between sites without revision. Three specific problems follow from that.
The first is fixed statuses on variable additives. A list that assigns E471 a single verdict is wrong in one direction or the other for a large share of real products, and it is wrong in a way the reader cannot detect.
The second is stale sourcing. Production has shifted substantially toward plant oils and toward fermentation since those documents were written, so entries flagged as animal derived decades ago frequently are not today. Sunflower lecithin, for instance, barely existed commercially when most of these lists were compiled.
The third is that school-of-thought differences get flattened into a single verdict. Insect-derived additives are the clearest case: the rulings differ, and a list printing one answer is presenting a position as a fact.
FAQs
Which E-numbers are haram?
Very few are haram regardless of source. Carmine (E120) is insect derived in every commercial batch. Gelatine (E441) depends on the species and slaughter method. The larger group, including E471, E422, E472e, E433, E435 and E631, is source dependent, which means the answer is set by the manufacturer rather than by the code.
Is E471 halal or vegan?
It depends on whether the manufacturer used plant oil or animal fat, and the code does not record which. A halal or vegan certification mark on the pack means the source has been verified as part of that certification. Without a mark, only the manufacturer can answer.
Does a vegan certification mark also answer the halal question?
For source, largely yes, because a verified plant origin removes the animal-derivation concern. It does not address alcohol or cross-contamination, which halal certification covers separately.
Are E-numbers without a letter suffix safer or more natural?
No. The numbering reflects function and the order additives were classified, not origin or processing. E100 is turmeric extract and E110 is a synthetic dye, and nothing in the numbers signals that difference.
Why do two halal E-number lists give different answers for the same additive?
Usually because the additive is genuinely source dependent and each list picked one verdict, or because one list is repeating sourcing information that was accurate decades ago. For source-dependent additives, no fixed verdict can be correct for every product.
Sources and further reading
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- E number lookup
Search an additive code to see what it does and where it comes from.
- Ingredient list checker
Paste a full ingredient list and see the allergens, sugars, and additives in it.
Try LabelWise
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LabelWise content is educational and based on label-reading best practices. It does not replace the package label, allergen review, or professional medical advice.