E Numbers - from The Vegetarian Autumn 1994

Of the hundreds of E numbers and numbered additives there are very few which can never be made in a manner suitable for vegetarians - only two in fact E120 Cochineal (a red colouring) which is extracted from the carcass of the female of a breed of cactus-feeding scale insect; and E542 Edible Bone Phosphate (an anti-caking agent and mineral supplement supplying calcium and phosphorus).

However there are 47 others to look out for which may be vegetarian or not depending on their method of production - for example, many are fat based so can be made from either animal or non-animal fat. The following may all be of animal origin and therefore unsuitable for vegetarians. Where any of these additives appear on the ingredients listing of a product approved by The Vegetarian Society you can be sure that we have carefully checked the origin of the additive to ascertain its suitability for vegetarians.