When I first started my vegan baking journey, I had to suddenly become mindful of the ingredients I was consuming. I avoided the most obvious things like meat, eggs and dairy but I didn’t realise that many e-numbers were not actually vegan.
E-numbers can be found in pretty much every processed food but particularly things with artificial colours and flavours. So as a baker, you’ll need to watch out for non-vegan e-numbers in things like cake decorations, sprinkles, frostings, and food colourings for things like red velvet cake.
Which e-numbers are vegan?
The good news is that many e-numbers are vegan friendly! I’ve created a list of all of the e-numbers I could find, along with whether or not they’re suitable for a vegan diet. I created this e-number checker list using a few websites such as Food Info for the e-number vegan/non-vegan status, and Wikipedia for the names.
I also included the non-vegan e-numbers because I personally find it useful to be able to just search any particular e-number to see if it is vegan or not, rather than trailing through a long list to see if it’s there. To search this page, just press control + F on your keyboard, type in the e-number in the text box that appears, then press enter.
Let me know if you come across any other e-numbers that are not included in the list and I’ll be sure to add them.
Food colourings
| E-number | Vegan? | Name/also known as |
| E100 | Yes | Curcumin |
| E101 | Yes | Riboflavin |
| E101a | Yes | Flavin Mononucleotide |
| E102 | Yes | Tartrazine |
| E103 | Yes | Alkannin |
| E104 | Yes | Quinoline Yellow |
| E105 | Yes | Fast Yellow or Fast Yellow AB |
| E106 | Yes | Riboflavin-5’phosphate |
| E107 | Yes | Yellow 2G |
| E110 | Yes | Sunset Yellow FCF or Orange Yellow S |
| E111 | Yes | Orange GGN |
| E120 | No | Carmine, Natural Red 4 or Cochineal |
| E121 | Yes | Citrus Red 2 or Orcein |
| E122 | Yes | Carmoisine |
| E123 | Yes | Amaranth |
| E124 | Yes | Ponceau 4R |
| E125 | Yes | Scarlet GN or Ponceau SX |
| E126 | Yes | Ponceau 6R |
| E127 | Yes | Erythrosine or Red 3 |
| E128 | Yes | Red 2G |
| E129 | Yes | Allura Red AC or Red 40 |
| E130 | Yes | Indanthrene Blue RS |
| E131 | Yes | Patent Blue V |
| E132 | Yes | Indigo carmine or Blue 2 |
| E133 | Yes | Brilliant Blue FCF |
| E140 | Yes | Chlorophylls or Chlorophyllins |
| E141 | Yes | Copper Complex of Chlorophylls/Chlorophyllins |
| E142 | Yes | Green S or Brilliant Green BS |
| E143 | Yes | Fast Green FCF |
| E150a | Yes | Plain caramel, caustic caramel or spirit caramel |
| E150b | Yes | Caustic sulfite caramel |
| E150c | Yes | Ammonia caramel, baker’s caramel or confectioner’s caramel |
| E150d | Yes | Sulfite ammonia caramel |
| E151 | Yes | Black PN or Brilliant Black BN |
| E152 | Yes | Black 7984 |
| E153 | Sometimes | Carbon Black |
| E154 | Yes | Brown FK or Kipper Brown |
| E155 | Yes | Brown HT |
| E160a | Yes | Alpha-carotene, Gamma-carotene or Beta-carotene |
| E160b | Yes | Annatto, Bixin or Norbixin |
| E160c | Yes | Paprika Extract, Capsanthin or Capsorbin |
| E160d | Yes | Lycopene |
| E160e | Yes | Beta-apo-8′-carotenal |
| E160f | Yes | Ethyl Ester of Beta-apo-8′-carotenic Acid |
| E161a | Yes | Flavoxanthin |
| E161b | Yes | Lutein |
| E161c | Yes | Cryptoxanthin |
| E161d | Yes | Rubixanthin |
| E161e | Yes | Violaxanthin |
| E161f | Yes | Rhodoxanthin |
| E161g | No | Canthaxanthin |
| E161h | No | Zeaxanthin |
| E161i | No | Citranaxanthin |
| E161j | No | Astaxanthin |
| E162 | Yes | Beetroot Red or Betanin |
| E163 | Yes | Anthocyanins |
| E170 | Yes | Calcium Carbonate |
| E171 | Yes | Titanium Dioxide |
| E172 | Yes | Iron Oxides or Iron Hydroxides |
| E173 | Yes | Aluminium |
| E174 | Yes | Silver |
| E175 | Yes | Gold |
| E180 | Yes | Pigment Rubine or Lithol Rubine BK |
| E181 | Yes | Tannin |
Preservatives
Non-vegan and vegan e-numbers that are used as preservatives.
| E-Number | Vegan? | Name/Also known as |
| E200 | Yes | Sorbic Acid |
| E201 | Yes | Sodium Sorbate |
| E202 | Yes | Potassium Sorbate |
| E203 | Yes | Calcium Sorbate |
| E210 | Yes | Benzoic Acid |
| E211 | Yes | Sodium Benzoate |
| E212 | Yes | Potassium Benzoate |
| E213 | Yes | Calcium Benzoate |
| E214 | Yes | Ethylparaben |
| E215 | Yes | Sodium Ethyl Para-Hydroxybenzoate |
| E216 | Yes | Propylparaben |
| E217 | Yes | Sodium Propyl Para-hydroxybenzoate |
| E218 | Yes | Methylparaben |
| E219 | Yes | Sodium Methyl Para-Hydroxybenzoate |
| E220 | Yes | Sulphur Dioxide |
| E221 | Yes | Sodium Sulphite |
| E222 | Yes | Sodium Bisulphite |
| E223 | Yes | Sodium Metabisulphite |
| E224 | Yes | Potassium Metabisulphite |
| E225 | Yes | Potassium Sulphite |
| E226 | Yes | Calcium Sulphite |
| E227 | Yes | Calcium Hydrogen Sulphite |
| E228 | Yes | Potassium Hydrogen Sulphite |
| E230 | Yes | Biphenyl or Diphenyl |
| E231 | Yes | Orthophenyl Phenol |
| E232 | Yes | Sodium Orthophenyl Phenol |
| E233 | Yes | Thiabendazole |
| E234 | Yes | Nisin |
| E235 | Yes | Natamycin or Pimaracin |
| E236 | Yes | Formic Acid |
| E237 | Yes | Sodium Formate |
| E238 | Yes | Calcium Formate |
| E239 | Yes | Hexamine |
| E240 | Yes | Formaldehyde |
| E242 | Yes | Dimethyl Dicarbonate |
| E249 | Yes | Potassium Nitrite |
| E250 | Yes | Sodium Nitrite |
| E251 | Yes | Sodium Nitrate |
| E252 | No | Potassium Nitrate or Saltpetre |
| E260 | Yes | Acetic Acid |
| E261 | Yes | Potassium Acetate |
| E262 | Yes | Sodium Acetates or Sodium Hydrogen Acetate |
| E263 | Yes | Calcium Acetate |
| E264 | Yes | Ammonium Acetate |
| E270 | Sometimes | Lactic Acid |
| E280 | Yes | Propionic Acid |
| E281 | Yes | Sodium Propionate |
| E282 | Yes | Calcium Propionate |
| E283 | Yes | Potassium Propionate |
| E284 | Yes | Boric Acid |
| E285 | Yes | Sodium Tetraborate |
| E290 | Yes | Carbon Dioxide |
| E296 | Yes | Malic Acid |
| E297 | Yes | Fumaric Acid |
Antioxidants and Acidity Regulators
| E-Number | Vegan? | Name/Also known as |
| E300 | Yes | Ascorbic Acid or Vitamin C |
| E301 | Yes | Sodium Ascorbate |
| E302 | Yes | Calcium Ascorbate |
| E303 | Yes | Potassium Ascorbate |
| E304 | Sometimes | Fatty-Acid Esters of Ascorbic Acid |
| E306 | Yes | Tocopherol-Rich Extract |
| E307 | Yes | Alpha-Tocopherol |
| E308 | Yes | Gamma-Tocopherol |
| E309 | Yes | Delta-Tocopherol |
| E310 | Yes | Propyl Gallate |
| E311 | Yes | Octyl Gallate |
| E312 | Yes | Dodecyl Gallate |
| E315 | Yes | Erythorbic Acid |
| E316 | Yes | Sodium Erythorbate |
| E317 | Yes | Erythorbin Acid |
| E318 | Yes | Sodium Erythorbin |
| E319 | Yes | tert-Butylhydroquinone |
| E320 | Yes | Butylated Hydroxyanisole |
| E321 | Yes | Butylated Hydroxytoluene |
| E322 | No | Lecithin |
| E325 | No | Sodium Lactate |
| E326 | No | Potassium Lactate |
| E327 | No | Calcium Lactate |
| E329 | Yes | Magnesium Lactate |
| E330 | Yes | Citric Acid |
| E331 | Yes | Sodium Citrates or Monosodium Citrate |
| E332 | Yes | Potassium Citrates |
| E333 | Yes | Calcium Citrates |
| E334 | Yes | Tartaric Acid |
| E335 | Yes | Sodium Tartrates |
| E336 | Yes | Potassium Tartrates |
| E337 | Yes | Sodium Potassium Tartrate |
| E338 | Yes | Phosphoric Acid |
| E339 | Yes | Sodium Phosphates |
| E340 | Yes | Potassium Phosphates |
| E341 | Yes | Calcium Phosphates |
| E343 | Yes | Magnesium Phosphates |
| E350 | Yes | Sodium Malates |
| E351 | Yes | Potassium Malate |
| E352 | Yes | Calcium Malates |
| E353 | Yes | Metatartaric Acid |
| E354 | Yes | Calcium Tartrate |
| E355 | Yes | Adipic Acid |
| E356 | Yes | Sodium Adipate |
| E357 | Yes | Potassium Adipate |
| E363 | Yes | Succinic Acid |
| E365 | Yes | Sodium Fumarate |
| E366 | Yes | Potassium Fumarate |
| E367 | Yes | Calcium Fumarate |
| E370 | Yes | 1,4-Heptonolactone |
| E375 | Yes | Niacin |
| E380 | Yes | Triammonium |
| E381 | Yes | Ammoniumferrocitrate |
| E385 | Yes | Calcium Disodium Ethylene Diamine Tetra-Acetate |
Thickeners, Stabilisers and Emulsifiers
| E-Number | Vegan? | Name/Also known as |
| E400 | Yes | Alginic Acid |
| E401 | Yes | Sodium Alginate |
| E402 | Yes | Potassium Alginate |
| E403 | Yes | Ammonium Alginate |
| E404 | Yes | Calcium Alginate |
| E405 | Yes | Propane-1,2-Diol Alginate |
| E406 | Yes | Agar |
| E407 | Yes | Carrageenan |
| E407a | Yes | Processed Eucheuma Seaweed |
| E410 | Yes | Locust Bean Gum |
| E412 | Yes | Guar Gum |
| E413 | Yes | Tragacanth |
| E414 | Yes | Acacia Gum |
| E415 | Yes | Xanthan Gum |
| E416 | Yes | Karaya Gum |
| E417 | Yes | Tara Gum |
| E418 | Yes | Gellan Gum |
| E420 | Yes | Sorbitol |
| E421 | Yes | Mannitol |
| E422 | Sometimes | Glycerol |
| E425 | Yes | Konjac or Konjac Gum |
| E430 | Sometimes | Polyoxyethylene (8) Stearate |
| E431 | Sometimes | Polyoxyethylene (40) Stearate |
| E432 | Sometimes | Polyoxyethylene 20 Sorbitan Monolaurate |
| E433 | Sometimes | Polyoxyethylene 20 Sorbitan Mono-oleate |
| E434 | Sometimes | Polyoxyethylene 20 Sorbitan Monopalmitate |
| E435 | Sometimes | Polyoxyethylene 20 Sorbitan Monostearate |
| E436 | Sometimes | Polyoxyethylene 20 Sorbitan Tristearate |
| E440 | Yes | Pectins |
| E441 | No | Gelatine |
| E442 | No | Ammonium Phosphatides |
| E444 | Yes | Sucrose Acetate Isobutyrate |
| E445 | Yes | Glycerol Esters of Wood Rosins |
| E450 | Yes | Diphosphates |
| E451 | Yes | Triphosphates |
| E452 | Yes | Polyphosphates |
| E459 | Yes | Beta-Cyclodextrine |
| E460 | Yes | Cellulose or Microcrystalline Cellulose |
| E461 | Yes | Methyl Cellulose |
| E462 | Yes | Ethyl Cellulose |
| E463 | Yes | Hydroxypropyl Cellulose |
| E464 | Yes | Hydroxy Propyl Methyl Cellulose |
| E465 | Yes | Ethyl Methyl Cellulose |
| E466 | Yes | Carboxymethyl Cellulose |
| E468 | Yes | Crosslinked Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose |
| E469 | Yes | Enzymically Hydrolysed Carboxymethylcellulose |
| E470a | No | Sodium, Potassium and Calcium Salts of Fatty Acids |
| E470b | No | Magnesium Salts of Fatty Acids |
| E471 | Sometimes | Mono & Diglycerides of Fatty Acids |
| E472a | No | Acetic Acid Esters of Mono & Diglycerides of Fatty Acids |
| E472b | No | Lactic Acid Esters of Mono & Diglycerides of Fatty Acids |
| E472c | No | Citric Acid Esters of Mono & Diglycerides of Fatty Acids |
| E472d | No | Tartaric Acid Esters of Mono & Diglycerides of Fatty Acids |
| E472e | No | Mono & Diacetyl Tartaric Acid Esters of Mono & Diglycerides of Fatty Acids |
| E472f | no | Mixed Acetic & Tartaric Acid Esters of Mono & Diglycerides of Fatty Acids |
| E473 | No | Sucrose Esters of Fatty Acids |
| E474 | No | Sucroglycerides |
| E475 | No | Polyglycerol Esters of Fatty Acids |
| E476 | Yes | Polyglycerol Polyricinoleate |
| E477 | No | Propane-1, 2-diol Esters of Fatty Acids |
| E478 | No | Lactylated Fatty Acid Esters of Glycerol and Propane-1 |
| E479 | No | Thermally Oxidized Soya Bean Oil Interacted With Mono & Diglycerides of Fatty Acids |
| E481 | Sometimes | Sodium Stearoyl-2-lactylate |
| E482 | Sometimes | Calcium Stearoyl-2-lactylate |
| E483 | Sometimes | Stearyl Tartrate |
| E491 | Sometimes | Sorbitan Monostearate |
| E492 | Sometimes | Sorbitan Tristearate |
| E493 | Sometimes | Sorbitan Monolaurate |
| E494 | Sometimes | Sorbitan Monooleat |
| E495 | Sometimes | Sorbitan Monopalmitate |
Anti-Caking Agents and Acidity Regulators
| E-Number | Vegan? | Name/Also known as |
| E500 | Yes | Sodium Carbonates |
| E501 | Yes | Potassium Carbonates |
| E503 | Yes | Ammonium Carbonates |
| E504 | Yes | Magnesium Carbonates |
| E507 | Yes | Hydrochloric Acid |
| E508 | Yes | Potassium Chloride |
| E509 | Yes | Calcium Chloride |
| E510 | Yes | Ammonium Chloride |
| E511 | Yes | Magnesium Chloride |
| E512 | Yes | Stannous Chloride |
| E513 | Yes | Sulphuric Acid |
| E517 | Yes | Ammonium Sulphate |
| E518 | Yes | Magnesium Sulfate or Epsom Salts |
| E519 | Yes | Copper(II) Sulphate |
| E520 | Yes | Aluminium Sulphate |
| E521 | Yes | Aluminium Sodium Sulphate |
| E522 | Yes | Aluminium Potassium Sulphate |
| E523 | Yes | Aluminium Ammonium Sulphate |
| E524 | Yes | Sodium Hydroxide |
| E525 | Yes | Potassium Hydroxide |
| E526 | Yes | Calcium Hydroxide |
| E527 | Yes | Ammonium Hydroxide |
| E528 | Yes | Magnesium Hydroxide |
| E529 | Yes | Calcium Oxide |
| E530 | Yes | Magnesium Oxide |
| E535 | Yes | Sodium Ferrocyanide |
| E536 | Yes | Potassium Ferrocyanide |
| E538 | Yes | Calcium Ferrocyanide |
| E540 | Yes | Dicalcium Diphosphate |
| E541 | Yes | Sodium Aluminium Phosphate |
| E542 | No | Bone Phosphate |
| E543 | Yes | Calcium Sodium Polyphosphate |
| E544 | Yes | Calcium Polyphosphate |
| E545 | Yes | Ammonium Polyphosphate |
| E550 | Yes | Sodium Silicate |
| E551 | Yes | Silicon Dioxide |
| E552 | Yes | Calcium Silicate |
| E553a | Yes | Magnesium Silicate or Magnesium Trisilicate |
| E553b | Yes | Talc |
| E554 | Yes | Sodium Aluminosilicate |
| E555 | Yes | Potassium Aluminium Silicate |
| E556 | Yes | Calcium Aluminosilicate |
| E558 | Yes | Bentonite |
| E559 | Yes | Aluminium Silicate or Kaolin |
| E570 | No | Stearic Acid |
| E572 | No | Magnesium Stearate |
| E574 | Yes | Gluconic Acid |
| E575 | Yes | Glucono-Delta-Lactone |
| E576 | Yes | Sodium Gluconate |
| E577 | Yes | Potassium Gluconate |
| E578 | Yes | Calcium Gluconate |
| E579 | Yes | Ferrous Gluconate |
| E585 | Sometimes | Ferrous Lactate |
Flavour Enhancers
| E-Number | Vegan? | Name/Also known as |
| E620 | Yes | Glutamic Acid |
| E621 | Yes | Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) |
| E622 | Yes | Monopotassium Glutamate |
| E623 | Yes | Calcium Diglutamate |
| E624 | Yes | Monoammonium Glutamate |
| E625 | Yes | Magnesium Diglutamate |
| E626 | Sometimes | Guanylic Acid |
| E627 | No | Disodium Guanylate |
| E628 | Sometimes | Dipotassium Guanylate |
| E629 | Sometimes | Calcium Guanylate |
| E630 | No | Inosinic Acid |
| E631 | No | Disodium Inosinate |
| E632 | No | Dipotassium Inosinate |
| E633 | No | Calcium Inosinate |
| E634 | No | Calcium 5′-Ribonucleotides |
| E635 | No | Disodium 5′-Ribonucleotides |
| E636 | No | Maltol |
| E637 | No | Ethyl Maltol |
| E640 | No | Glycine or Sodium Glycinate |
Other E-Numbers
Miscellaneous non-vegan and vegan e-numbers.
| E-Number | Vegan? | Name/Also known as |
| E900 | Yes | Dimethyl Polysiloxane |
| E901 | No | Beeswax |
| E902 | Yes | Candelilla Wax |
| E903 | Yes | Carnauba wax |
| E904 | No | Shellac |
| E905 | Yes | Paraffins |
| E905a | Yes | Mineral Oil |
| E905b | Yes | Petrolatum |
| E905c | Yes | Microcrystalline wax |
| E906 | Yes | Gum benzoic |
| E907 | Yes | Crystalline wax |
| E908 | Yes | Rice bran wax |
| E910 | No | L-cysteine |
| E912 | Yes | Montan wax |
| E913 | No | Lanolin or Sheep wool grease |
| E914 | Yes | Oxidized Polyethylene Wax |
| E915 | Yes | Esters of Colophony |
| E920 | No | L-cysteine |
| E921 | No | L-cysteine |
| E922 | Yes | Potassium Persulfate |
| E923 | Yes | Ammonium Persulfate |
| E924 | Yes | Potassium Bromate |
| E925 | Yes | Chlorine |
| E926 | Yes | Chlorine Dioxide |
| E927 | Yes | Azodicarbonamide |
| E928 | Yes | Benzoyl Peroxide |
| E930 | Yes | Calcium Peroxide |
| E938 | Yes | Argon |
| E939 | Yes | Helium |
| E940 | Yes | dichlorodifluoromethane |
| E941 | Yes | Nitrogen |
| E942 | Yes | Nitrous Oxide |
| E943a | Yes | Butane |
| E943b | Yes | Isobutane |
| E944 | Yes | Propane |
| E948 | Yes | Oxygen |
| E949 | Yes | Hydrogen |
| E950 | Yes | Acesulfame |
| E951 | Yes | Aspartame |
| E952 | Yes | Cyclamic Acid or Cyclohexylsulfamic Acid |
| E953 | Yes | Isomalt |
| E954 | Yes | Saccharin |
| E955 | Yes | Sucralose |
| E956 | No | Alitame |
| E957 | Yes | Thaumatin |
| E959 | Yes | Neohesperidine Dihydrochalcone |
| E965 | Yes | Maltitol |
| E966 | No | Lactitol |
| E967 | Yes | Xylitol |
| E999 | Yes | Quillaia Extract |
| E1103 | Yes | Invertase |
| E1105 | Yes | Lysozyme |
| E1200 | Yes | Polydextrose |
| E1201 | Yes | Polyvinylpyrrolidone |
| E1202 | Yes | Polyvinylpolypyrrolidone |
| E1400 | Yes | Dextrin |
| E1401 | Yes | Modified Starch |
| E1402 | Yes | Alkaline Modified Starch |
| E1403 | Yes | Bleached Starch |
| E1404 | Yes | Oxidized Starch |
| E1410 | Yes | Monostarch Phosphate |
| E1411 | Yes | Di-starch Glycerol |
| E1412 | Yes | Distarch Phosphate |
| E1413 | Yes | Phosphated Distarch Phosphate |
| E1414 | Yes | Acetylated Distarch Phosphate |
| E1420 | Yes | Acetylated Starch or Starch Acetate |
| E1421 | Yes | Acetylated Starch or Starch Acetate |
| E1422 | Yes | Acetylated Distarch Adipate |
| E1430 | Yes | Distarch Glycerine |
| E1440 | Yes | Hydroxy Propyl Starch |
| E1441 | Yes | Hydroxy Propyl Distarch Glycerine |
| E1442 | Yes | Hydroxy Propyl Distarch Phosphate |
| E1450 | Yes | Starch Sodium Octenyl Succinate |
| E1451 | Yes | Acetylated Oxidised Starch |
| E1501 | Yes | Benzylated Hydrocarbons |
| E1502 | Yes | Butane-1 |
| E1503 | Yes | Castor Oil |
| E1504 | Yes | Ethyl Acetate |
| E1505 | Yes | Triethyl Citrate |
| E1510 | Yes | Ethanol |
| E1516 | Yes | Glycerol Monoacetate |
| E1517 | Yes | Glyceryl Diacetate or Diacetin |
| E1518 | Yes | Glyceryl Triacetate or Triacetin |
| E1519 | Yes | Benzyl Alcohol |
| E1520 | Yes | Propylene Glycol |
| E1525 | Yes | Hydroxy Ethyl Cellulose |