Ingredients & E-Codes Kosher E-Numbers List: Which Additives Are Kosher?
Kosher E-numbers depend on their source, not the code itself. Most additives on a label are plant based or synthetic and pose no problem, but a short list, including E120, E441, E471, E904 and E920, can be animal or insect derived and needs a certification to be sure.
Ingredients & E-Codes Is Carmine (E120) Kosher? What the Dye Really Is
Carmine is not kosher. It is a red dye made from crushed cochineal insects, and since kosher law forbids eating insects, no reliable certifying agency will approve a product that contains it. The hard part is spotting carmine on a label, because it hides under several different names.
Ingredients & E-Codes Is Carmine (E120) Kosher? The Insect Dye Question
Carmine, listed as E120, is not kosher. It is a red pigment made from the dried bodies of cochineal insects, and insects are not among the creatures kosher law permits. If a label lists carmine, cochineal, or carminic acid, treat the product as non-kosher unless a trusted hechsher says otherwise.
Ingredients & E-Codes Is Gelatin Kosher? What the Label Tells You
Gelatin is kosher only when it comes from a kosher source and carries a reliable hechsher. Most of the gelatin on supermarket shelves does not, because it usually starts with pork or non-kosher beef. The good news is that a label tells you most of what you need in a few seconds.
