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Emulsifier

E432 (polysorbate 20): what it is, its sources, vegan or not

E432 can come from plant oils or animal fat, and the pack rarely says which. Vegetarian and vegan profiles get Heads up: source not stated.

By Bravoora teamUpdated Sources checked 4 sourcesHow we check

Heads up

for a vegan profile

E432=source not stated

What is E432?

E432 (polysorbate 20) is an emulsifier, an additive that keeps oil and water mixed in a food.

What is E432 made from?

E432 can come from plant oils or animal fat. The source is not stated on the pack: a label does not have to say which of these was used.

  • Plant oils
  • Animal fat

Is E432 vegan?

Heads up. Source not stated. E432 can come from plant oils or animal fat. The pack does not have to say which, so the app says Heads up instead of guessing.

What the app says to each profile, and the reason it shows.

VeganHeads upSource not stated. E432 can come from plant oils or animal fat. The pack does not have to say which, so the app says Heads up instead of guessing.
VegetarianHeads upSource not stated. E432 can come from plant oils or animal fat. One of those is meat, fish or a slaughter by-product, and the pack does not have to say which.

What other names does E432 have on a label?

On a label, E432 can also appear as “INS 432”, “Emulsifier (432)”, “Emulsifier (E432)”, “Polysorbate 20” or “Polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate”.

Any of these on a pack means E432. The checker reads them all.

E432E 432E-432INS 432Emulsifier (432)Emulsifier (E432)Polysorbate 20Polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurateTween 20

What would change the answer for E432?

For E432, a stated source changes the answer. A pack that says “from plant oils” gives Fits you; one that says “from animal fat” gives Not for you. A list that is cut off or unreadable gets Needs one more scan.

Sources: EU, US and Codex additive rules

Where additives are listed and approved. Bravoora reads the source and the diet; it does not rate the hazard.

  1. EU Regulation 1333/2008 on food additives (the E-number list)
  2. EU Regulation 1169/2011, Annex II: the allergen sources a label must name
  3. US FDA: Food Additive Status List
  4. FAO/WHO Codex: General Standard for Food Additives (GSFA) online

Names and classes cross-checked with Open Food Facts (Open Database License).

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