Ingredient checker
Is it vegan? Ingredients, additives & E-numbers checked
Short, sourced answers for the ingredients, additives and everyday foods people ask about most. Each page gives a clear verdict first, explains why, shows the names to look for on labels and links to the evidence.
- 15 Vegan
- 5 Usually vegan
- 16 Depends
- 14 Not vegan
5 answers match Clear filters
A
VeganE406Is agar vegan?Yes. Agar (E406) is a gelling agent made from red algae and is a popular vegan substitute for gelatin.Additives & E-numbersVeganE951Is aspartame vegan?Yes, by ingredients. Aspartame (E951) is made from two amino acids produced by fermentation and contains no animal products, though, like most sweete…Additives & E-numbers
B
Usually veganIs beer vegan?Usually. Most beers are made from water, grain, hops and yeast, but some — especially traditional cask ales — are fined with isinglass from fish, and…DrinksNot veganE901Is beeswax vegan?No. Beeswax (E901) is produced by honeybees, so vegans avoid it, as they do honey.Additives & E-numbersNot veganIs Bisquick vegan?No (Original, US). As of 31 October 2026, Betty Crocker lists buttermilk among the ingredients of Bisquick Original Pancake & Baking Mix, and states…Everyday foods & productsUsually veganIs bread vegan?Usually. Basic bread is made from flour, water, yeast and salt, which are vegan, but some breads contain milk, butter, eggs, honey or additives such…Everyday foods & products
C
Not veganE120Is carmine vegan?No. Carmine, also called cochineal or E120, is a red colour made from crushed cochineal insects, so it is not vegan.Additives & E-numbersVeganE407Is carrageenan vegan?Yes. Carrageenan (E407) is extracted from red seaweed and is vegan; it is widely used as a plant-based alternative to gelatin.Additives & E-numbersNot veganIs casein vegan?No. Casein is the main protein in milk, so casein and caseinates are dairy ingredients and not vegan.IngredientsNot veganIs castoreum vegan?No. Castoreum is a secretion from the castor sacs of beavers, so it is not vegan — though it is now rarely used in food.Additives & E-numbersVeganIs cocoa butter vegan?Yes. Cocoa butter is the fat pressed from cocoa beans; despite the name it contains no dairy and is vegan.IngredientsNot veganE904Is confectioner’s glaze vegan?No. Confectioner’s glaze is shellac (E904) dissolved in alcohol, made from a resin secreted by lac insects.Additives & E-numbers
D
DependsIs dark chocolate vegan?It depends. Dark chocolate is often made only from cocoa, sugar and an emulsifier, which is vegan, but some bars contain milk fat or milk powder and…Everyday foods & productsDependsAre Doritos vegan?It depends on the country and flavour. The US Doritos website says that currently no Doritos flavours are classified as vegan; in other countries som…Everyday foods & products
E
DependsE471Is E471 vegan?It depends. E471 emulsifiers are made from glycerol and fatty acids that can come from plant oils or animal fats; most are now plant-based, but label…Additives & E-numbersDependsE631Is E631 vegan?It depends. Disodium inosinate (E631) can be made from meat or fish, or by fermentation; the label does not say which.Additives & E-numbers
G
Not veganIs gelatin vegan?No. Gelatin is made by boiling animal skin, bones, tendons and ligaments, usually from pigs or cattle, so it is never vegan.IngredientsDependsE422Is glycerin vegan?It depends. Glycerin (E422) can be made from plant oils, animal fat or petrochemicals; “vegetable glycerin” is vegan, but plain “glycerin” may not be.Additives & E-numbersVeganE412Is guar gum vegan?Yes. Guar gum (E412) is a thickener ground from the seeds of the guar plant and is vegan.Additives & E-numbers
H
I
L
DependsE920Is L-cysteine vegan?It depends on the source. L-cysteine (E920) is often made from duck feathers or hair, but versions made by fermentation or synthesis are vegan; label…Additives & E-numbersUsually veganE270Is lactic acid vegan?Usually. Despite its name, lactic acid (E270) is normally made by fermenting plant sugars, not from milk, so it is generally vegan.Additives & E-numbersNot veganIs lactose vegan?No. Lactose is the natural sugar in milk, so it is a dairy ingredient and not vegan.IngredientsNot veganIs lanolin vegan?No. Lanolin is a grease extracted from sheep’s wool, so it is not vegan; it is also the usual source of vitamin D3.IngredientsUsually veganE322Is lecithin vegan?Usually. Lecithin (E322) in food is almost always made from soya or sunflower, which is vegan, but it can also come from egg yolk.Additives & E-numbersNot veganE1105Is lysozyme vegan?No. Lysozyme (E1105) is an enzyme extracted from hens’ egg white, so it is not vegan.Additives & E-numbers
M
DependsAre marshmallows vegan?Most standard marshmallows are not vegan because they are set with gelatin; vegan marshmallows made with plant-based gelling agents are widely availa…Everyday foods & productsVeganE621Is MSG vegan?Yes. MSG (E621) is made by fermenting plant carbohydrates such as sugar cane, sugar beet or starch, and is vegan.Additives & E-numbers
N
DependsAre natural flavours vegan?It depends. “Natural flavours” can legally come from plants or from animals such as meat, dairy, eggs or seafood, and the label does not have to say…IngredientsVeganIs nutritional yeast vegan?Yes. Nutritional yeast is an inactivated yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) grown on plant sugars, and it is vegan; many brands are fortified with vita…Ingredients
O
DependsIs omega-3 vegan?It depends on the source. Omega-3 added to foods or sold as supplements may come from fish oil (not vegan) or from algae, flax or rapeseed (vegan).Vitamins & supplementsDependsAre Oreos vegan?It depends on the product and country. In the UK, Oreo says many of its products are suitable for vegans but may contain traces of milk; check the cu…Everyday foods & products
P
VeganIs palm oil vegan?Yes. Palm oil is made from the fruit of the oil palm and contains no animal products, but its production has been linked to deforestation, so some ve…IngredientsUsually veganIs pasta vegan?Usually. Most dried pasta is made only from durum wheat semolina and water, which is vegan; fresh pasta and egg pasta (pasta all’uovo) usually contai…Everyday foods & productsVeganE440Is pectin vegan?Yes. Pectin (E440) is a gelling agent extracted from fruit, mainly citrus peel and apple pomace, and is vegan.Additives & E-numbersVeganIs phenylalanine vegan?Yes. Phenylalanine is an amino acid that is industrially produced by microbial fermentation; the label warning about it is for people with phenylketo…Ingredients
R
VeganE127Is Red 3 vegan?Yes, by ingredients. Red 3 (erythrosine, E127) is a synthetic dye with no animal ingredients; the US FDA has revoked its authorisation in food from 2…Additives & E-numbersVeganE129Is Red 40 vegan?Yes, by ingredients. Red 40 (Allura Red AC, E129) is a synthetic dye with no animal-derived ingredients, although some vegans avoid synthetic dyes be…Additives & E-numbersDependsIs rennet vegan?It depends. Traditional rennet comes from the stomachs of calves and is not vegan; microbial or fermentation-produced rennet is animal-free — but the…Ingredients
S
Not veganE904Is shellac vegan?No. Shellac (E904) is a resin secreted by female lac insects, so it is not vegan.Additives & E-numbersDependsE570Is stearic acid vegan?It depends. Stearic acid can come from animal fats such as tallow or from plant fats such as palm or shea; the label rarely says which.Additives & E-numbersDependsIs sugar vegan?It depends where you are. Sugar is a plant product, but some refined cane sugar — mainly in the US — is whitened using bone char from cattle bones; b…Ingredients
V
VeganIs vitamin B12 vegan?Yes. The vitamin B12 in supplements and fortified foods is produced by bacterial fermentation and is vegan — and vegans need a reliable source of it.Vitamins & supplementsVeganIs vitamin D2 vegan?Yes. Vitamin D2 is made by exposing yeast or fungi to UV light and is vegan.Vitamins & supplementsDependsIs vitamin D3 vegan?It depends. Most vitamin D3 is made from lanolin in sheep’s wool or from fish oil, so it is not vegan; vitamin D3 sourced from lichen is vegan.Vitamins & supplements
W
Not veganIs whey vegan?No. Whey is the liquid left after milk is curdled to make cheese, so it is a dairy product and not vegan.IngredientsDependsIs wine vegan?It depends. Wine is made from grapes, but many wines are clarified with animal-derived fining agents such as isinglass, gelatin, casein or egg white,…DrinksDependsIs Worcestershire sauce vegan?It depends on the brand. Traditional Worcestershire sauce, including Lea & Perrins The Original, contains anchovies and is not vegan, but vegan versi…Everyday foods & products
X
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Try another spelling or an E-number, check hidden animal ingredients in Veganpedia, or ask us to add it.
How to tell if something is vegan
- Read the allergens. In the UK and EU, milk, eggs, fish, crustaceans and molluscs must be emphasised in the ingredient list, which catches most dairy and egg.
- Scan for the always-animal ingredients — gelatin, whey, casein, lactose, honey, carmine (E120), shellac (E904), beeswax (E901), isinglass and lanolin.
- Watch the “depends” list — E471, glycerin (E422), stearic acid (E570), L-cysteine (E920), E631, natural flavours and vitamin D3 can be plant or animal.
- Look for a vegan logo such as the Vegan Society trademark or V-Label, which covers every ingredient and processing aid. See vegan labels explained.
- Still unsure? Ask the manufacturer. Many publish vegan lists on their websites.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check if a food is vegan?
Read the ingredient list and allergen statement for milk, eggs, fish and crustaceans, then look for less obvious animal ingredients such as gelatin, whey, casein, carmine (E120), shellac (E904) and honey. Some ingredients, such as E471, glycerin, L-cysteine and natural flavours, can be plant or animal; a vegan logo or the manufacturer can confirm.
What does “depends” mean?
The ingredient can come from plants, animals or synthesis, and the label usually does not say which. A vegan certification or a reply from the manufacturer is the only way to be sure.
Does “may contain milk” mean a product isn’t vegan?
No. “May contain” warnings are about possible cross-contact in the factory, not ingredients. Many vegans accept them; people with allergies must not.
Which E-numbers are not vegan?
E120 (cochineal/carmine), E901 (beeswax), E904 (shellac) and E1105 (lysozyme, from egg) are always animal-derived. E422, E471, E570, E631 and E920 can be animal- or plant-derived.
Answers are written by the itsvegan editors from the sources linked on each page, reviewed on the date shown. Recipes and formulations change and differ between countries — always check the current label. Report an error.