E code checker: what each E number is made of
Type any E number and this free E code checker tells you what the additive is, what it is usually made from, and what that means for halal, kosher, vegetarian and vegan diets. The code itself never names the source, which is exactly why so many labels leave the question open.
Decode an E number
Press Enter to decode. E471, e 471, 471 and E-471 all find the same entry, letter suffixes such as 160a or 472e work, and so do names such as carmine, gelatine or DATEM.
What an E number does and does not tell you
An E number is a European approval code. It identifies the additive and confirms it passed an EU safety assessment, and that is all it does. It does not name the raw material, so E471 is mono- and diglycerides whether the fatty acids came from palm oil or from beef tallow, and the pack reads the same either way. Every entry here therefore separates three things: what the additive is, what it is usually made from, and what the label is allowed to leave out.
Data covers 438 codes, checked against EU and US regulators and published halal guidance. Where authorities disagree, the entry says so rather than picking a winner.
How to use the decoder
- Type the code as you see it on the pack. E471, e 471, 471 and E-471 all work, and suffixes such as 160a or 472e are supported.
- Read the source line first. That is the line that decides a halal, kosher or vegan question, not the name.
- Check the US label name if you shop in the United States, because US packs print names instead of codes.
- Then screen the whole product, because one clean additive does not make a clean ingredient list.
What the verdicts mean
PlatePal uses four verdict states and only four: Certified, Likely OK, Concerns and Insufficient Data. On this page only two of them can appear. Likely OK means nothing about the additive conflicts with that profile. Concerns means either the additive itself conflicts, or its source does and the label does not say which source was used. Certified belongs to a finished product with a certifier behind it, never to a code, and Insufficient Data belongs to the product checker where a product record can simply be empty.
The most searched E numbers
These are the codes people look up most, with what each is made from and how it lands for halal and vegan diets. Decode any of them above for the full entry, including kosher and vegetarian status, aliases and the US label name.
| Code | Name | Made from | Halal | Vegan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E100 | Curcumin | Plant | Concerns | Likely OK |
| E101 | Riboflavins | Varies by manufacturer | Concerns | Concerns |
| E102 | Tartrazine | Synthetic | Concerns | Likely OK |
| E104 | Quinoline Yellow | Synthetic | Concerns | Concerns |
| E110 | Sunset Yellow FCF | Synthetic | Concerns | Likely OK |
| E120 | Carminic acid, Carmine | Insect | Concerns | Concerns |
| E122 | Azorubine, Carmoisine | Synthetic | Concerns | Likely OK |
| E124 | Ponceau 4R | Synthetic | Concerns | Likely OK |
| E129 | Allura Red AC | Synthetic | Concerns | Likely OK |
| E133 | Brilliant Blue FCF | Synthetic | Concerns | Likely OK |
| E150a | Plain caramel | Plant | Likely OK | Likely OK |
| E160a | Carotenes | Plant | Concerns | Concerns |
| E171 | Titanium dioxide | Mineral | Likely OK | Likely OK |
| E200 | Sorbic acid | Synthetic | Likely OK | Likely OK |
| E202 | Potassium sorbate | Synthetic | Likely OK | Likely OK |
| E211 | Sodium benzoate | Synthetic | Likely OK | Likely OK |
| E220 | Sulphur dioxide | Mineral | Likely OK | Likely OK |
| E250 | Sodium nitrite | Mineral | Likely OK | Likely OK |
| E270 | Lactic acid | Varies by manufacturer | Concerns | Concerns |
| E296 | Malic acid | Synthetic | Likely OK | Likely OK |
| E300 | Ascorbic acid | Synthetic | Likely OK | Likely OK |
| E322 | Lecithins | Varies by manufacturer | Concerns | Concerns |
| E330 | Citric acid | Microbial fermentation | Likely OK | Likely OK |
| E407 | Carrageenan | Plant | Likely OK | Likely OK |
| E412 | Guar gum | Plant | Likely OK | Likely OK |
| E415 | Xanthan gum | Microbial fermentation | Likely OK | Concerns |
| E420 | Sorbitols | Plant | Likely OK | Likely OK |
| E422 | Glycerol | Varies by manufacturer | Concerns | Concerns |
| E441 | Gelatine | Animal | Concerns | Concerns |
| E450 | Diphosphates | Mineral | Concerns | Likely OK |
| E471 | Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids | Varies by manufacturer | Concerns | Concerns |
| E472e | Mono- and diacetyl tartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides | Varies by manufacturer | Concerns | Concerns |
| E476 | Polyglycerol polyricinoleate | Varies by manufacturer | Concerns | Concerns |
| E481 | Sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate | Varies by manufacturer | Concerns | Concerns |
| E500 | Sodium carbonates | Mineral | Likely OK | Likely OK |
| E551 | Silicon dioxide | Mineral | Likely OK | Likely OK |
| E621 | Monosodium glutamate | Microbial fermentation | Concerns | Likely OK |
| E631 | Disodium inosinate | Varies by manufacturer | Concerns | Concerns |
| E901 | Beeswax, white and yellow | Insect | Concerns | Concerns |
| E904 | Shellac | Insect | Concerns | Concerns |
| E920 | L-cysteine | Varies by manufacturer | Concerns | Concerns |
| E951 | Aspartame | Synthetic | Likely OK | Likely OK |
| E955 | Sucralose | Synthetic | Likely OK | Likely OK |
| E960a | Steviol glycosides from Stevia | Plant | Likely OK | Likely OK |
The codes that cause the most questions
Four entries account for most of the searches that land here, and each has its own explainer: is E471 halal for the emulsifier that can be palm or tallow, what is E120 for the insect red, is carmine halal for the rulings behind that red, and is gelatin halal for gelatine, the ingredient most likely to make a sweet unsuitable, which older labels and markets outside the EU still number E441. The ingredient guide covers the same substances under their label names. For a single page listing which common codes are halal outright, see the E numbers halal list.
Where this tool stops
An additive code is a starting point, not a ruling. Manufacturers change suppliers without changing a label, halal authorities differ on the same code, and an approval status can be withdrawn. So read an entry as screening, not as a religious ruling and not as medical advice.
What this page is not
Allergens. PlatePal screens ingredient data, so this page is information and not medical advice. A recipe can change before the data does, and shared equipment never appears in an ingredient list. Always read the label on the package in your hand, and follow your allergist or doctor over any app.
Religious status. A screening result is not a religious ruling. Certifiers and schools of thought differ, and PlatePal does not rank them. For anything you hold yourself strictly to, ask a qualified authority or the certifier you already follow.
Data checked on 2026-09-12. Formulations change; verify your package.
Check a whole product instead
If what you actually have is a package rather than a code, the halal food checker reads the whole ingredient list and gives you stacked halal, kosher, vegetarian and vegan verdicts plus the declared allergens. In a shop, the halal food scanner and the allergen scanner do the same from a barcode.
Frequently asked questions
What is an E number?
An E number is the European code for a food additive that has passed an EU safety assessment. The letter E means approved for use in the European Union and the digits say which additive it is, grouped by job: 100s are colours, 200s preservatives, 300s antioxidants and acidity regulators, 400s thickeners and emulsifiers, 500s acidity regulators and anti caking agents, 600s flavour enhancers, 900s glazing agents and sweeteners.
Does an E number tell me whether a food is halal or vegan?
Not on its own. The code names the chemical, never the raw material it was made from, and the same code can be plant, mineral, synthetic or animal depending on the factory. That is why this page splits every entry into what it is, what it is usually made from, and what the label leaves out. For a decision about the food in your hand, screen the whole ingredient list in the product checker.
What is E120?
E120 is carmine, the red colour extracted from cochineal insects. It is not vegan or vegetarian, most halal authorities treat insect derived colour as doubtful or impermissible, and it is not kosher. It hides under several names on a label, including cochineal extract, carminic acid, natural red 4 and CI 75470. The full explainer is on our what is E120 page.
Is E471 halal?
It depends on the fat it was made from. E471 is mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids, and the fatty acids can come from palm or soy oil or from animal tallow. The label almost never says which, so most halal authorities treat plain E471 as doubtful unless the pack is certified or says vegetable. Our is E471 halal page covers the ice cream, bread and Hanafi questions in detail.
Is there an E code checker I can use for free?
This page is one. Type any E code, with or without the letter E, and you get the name, the aliases, what it is made from, the EU and US status and a stacked verdict for halal, kosher, vegetarian and vegan. There is no login and nothing to install.
Which E numbers come from animals?
The clear cases are E120 carmine from insects, E441 gelatine from animal skin and bone, E542 bone phosphate, E901 beeswax, E904 shellac from the lac insect, E913 lanolin from wool and E966 lactitol from milk sugar. Note that E441, E542 and E913 are no longer on the EU approved additive list, so in Europe they appear under their names instead of a code. Several more can be animal derived depending on the supplier, especially the emulsifier block from E470 to E495, E422 glycerol and E920 L-cysteine. Decode the specific code above to see which case yours is.
Why does a code come back as Concerns instead of a simple yes or no?
Because the label does not carry the answer. Concerns means the additive either conflicts with the profile or could go either way depending on a source the manufacturer has not declared. PlatePal will not guess, so the honest answer is to look for a certification on the pack or ask the manufacturer which source they use.
Do US labels use E numbers?
No. The United States uses ingredient names instead, so E471 reads as mono- and diglycerides and E120 reads as carmine or cochineal extract. Every entry here gives the US label name next to the code, which is what you actually need when you are standing in a US supermarket.
Sources
- Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 on food additives, consolidated text 02008R1333 of 2026-08-18 (Annex II Part B is the Union list) Checked 2026-09-12.
- Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012, specifications for food additives (what each additive is made from) Checked 2026-09-12.
- Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/63, removal of titanium dioxide E171 from EU food use Checked 2026-09-12.
- Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/2379, withdrawal of stearyl tartrate E483 Checked 2026-09-12.
- Commission Regulation (EU) No 1129/2011, which created the Union list (recitals on E128, E154, E160f, E161g) Checked 2026-09-12.
- Food Standards Agency, approved additives and E numbers for Great Britain (dated 2026-06-25) Checked 2026-09-12.
- eCFR versioner API, 21 CFR parts 73, 74, 81, 101, 172, 173, 180, 181, 182, 184 and 189 (Title 21 snapshot of 2026-09-01) Checked 2026-09-12.
- FDA Substances Added to Food inventory, 3,871 rows, FDA last updated 2026-07-28 Checked 2026-09-12.
- FDA Regulatory Status of Color Additives database, all 290 entries Checked 2026-09-12.
- FDA GRAS Notice inventory, FDA last updated 2026-09-11 Checked 2026-09-12.
- FDA, FD&C Red No. 3 status and the 2027-01-15 food compliance date Checked 2026-09-12.
- FDA, azodicarbonamide questions and answers, plus the 2026 post market review docket Checked 2026-09-12.
- SANHA (South African National Halaal Authority), halaal E numbers list, 354 codes with status and source Checked 2026-09-12.
- SANHA, haraam E numbers list (E120 carminic acid is the only entry) Checked 2026-09-12.
- SANHA, mashbooh E numbers list (includes the whole E470 to E483 block, E441, E542, E630 to E640, E910, E920, E921) Checked 2026-09-12.
- SANHA, E471 glyceryl monostearate ruling (vegetable origin wording is not accepted as proof) Checked 2026-09-12.
- GMWA Halal Foodguide, which E numbers are halaal (the body the UK Halal Monitoring Committee refers additive questions to) Checked 2026-09-12.
- GMWA Halal Foodguide, shellac ruling citing Darul Uloom Karachi and Mufti Taqi Usmani Checked 2026-09-12.
- GMWA Halal Foodguide, E920 L-cysteine in bread, with written confirmations from UK bakers Checked 2026-09-12.
- GMWA Halal Foodguide, whether a suitable for vegetarians mark settles E471, E472 and E476 Checked 2026-09-12.
- Halal Monitoring Committee UK, additive numbers FAQ (HMC does not rule on additives and refers to GMWA) Checked 2026-09-12.
- International Halal Certification, E codes table, 144 rows in the Muslim Consumer Group lineage Checked 2026-09-12.
- Halal Authority India, food ingredient numbers PDF, Muslim Consumer Group lineage Checked 2026-09-12.
- Halal Conformity Center, E numbers guidance, 142 codes with independent wording Checked 2026-09-12.
- Eat Halal, the Muslim Food Guide list by Shaykh Yusuf Sacha and Fahim Mayat Checked 2026-09-12.
- IFANCA, on insects in food, medicine and make up (all schools except the Maliki prohibit insects) Checked 2026-09-12.
- The Vegan Society, how to avoid buying non vegan products (E120, E322, E422, E471, E542, E631, E901, E904, E920) Checked 2026-09-12.
- Vegetarian Society, how to skip the chore of reading food labels (E120 is the only E number it names) Checked 2026-09-12.
- Viva!, A to Z of hidden nasties (E120, E161b, E270, E322, E422, E570, E901, E904, E920, plus the gelatine carrier warning) Checked 2026-09-12.
- Vegan Easy (Animal Liberation Victoria), food additives database, about 60 E numbers in two tiers Checked 2026-09-12.
- South African Vegan Society, non vegan E numbers (nine definite, about 38 possible) Checked 2026-09-12.
- Food-Info.net, which E numbers and additives are from animal origin Checked 2026-09-12.