Reading Food Labels as a Vegan

Reading food labels is a skill every vegan develops quickly. Here's how to spot hidden animal ingredients in 10 seconds — and the sneaky E-numbers to watch for.

The quick scan method

When picking up a packaged product, scan the ingredients list in this order:

1. Look for "vegan" or "suitable for vegans" label — many products now carry this. If present, you're done.
2. Check for obvious animal products: milk, cheese, butter, cream, eggs, honey, meat, fish, gelatin, beeswax.
3. Check for sneaky hidden ingredients (see below).
4. Check the "may contain" allergen warning — this is about cross- contamination, not direct ingredients; most vegans accept products with "may contain milk" warnings.

Hidden animal ingredients

Gelatin (E441)

Derived from boiled animal bones, skin, and cartilage. Found in: marshmallows, gummy sweets, some yogurts, jelly, some ice creams, vitamins (often in capsule shells), and wine/beer (as a fining agent).

Carmine / Cochineal (E120)

Red dye made from crushed cochineal insects. Found in: red-coloured sweets, juices, yogurts, strawberry flavoured products. Look for "E120", "carmine", "cochineal", or "natural red 4."

Shellac (E904)

Resinous secretion from lac bugs. Used as a glaze on: certain chocolates (e.g. Smarties), citrus fruits, some vitamins.

Isinglass

Fish bladder used to clarify beer and wine. Not always declared on labels — use Barnivore (barnivore.com) to check if your beer or wine is vegan.

Casein, Caseinate, Whey

Milk proteins, found in many processed foods including some "non-dairy" products (a common and misleading label).

Lactose

Milk sugar, found in many processed foods, medications, and some crisps/chips.

Glycerine / Glycerol (E422)

Can be plant or animal-derived. Most manufacturers use plant-derived glycerol, but it's worth checking with the manufacturer if you want certainty.

E-numbers at a glance

Here are the E-numbers most commonly associated with animal products:

• E120 — Carmine (insects) ✗
• E422 — Glycerol (may be animal) ?
• E441 — Gelatin (animal) ✗
• E471 — Mono-/diglycerides of fatty acids (may be animal) ?
• E472a–f — Fatty acid esters (may be animal) ?
• E542 — Edible bone phosphate (animal) ✗
• E570 — Fatty acids (may be animal) ?
• E904 — Shellac (insect) ✗
• E966 — Lactitol (from lactose / milk sugar) ✗

The ingredient checker

Not sure about a specific ingredient? Use our checker below:

Alcohol

Wine and beer are sometimes fined (clarified) using animal-derived agents: isinglass (fish bladder), casein (milk protein), egg whites, or gelatin. These are not always declared on labels. Use barnivore.com to check whether a specific brand is vegan. Most spirits are vegan. Most ciders are vegan. Beer and wine are the main concern.

Medications and supplements

Many medications and supplements use gelatin capsules, lactose as a filler, or shellac as a coating. For prescription medications, the health need generally outweighs the animal ingredient concern — discuss alternatives with your GP if important to you. For supplements, most brands now offer vegan capsule options.