Is e219 vegan?
E219 is a vegan food ingredient.
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"You are amazing, this has saved me so much time when grocery shopping!"
— Austin, a user who reached out with feedback
"It's been a great tool since starting my journey! You take a pic of the nutrition/ingredients, and it'll warn you of anything questionable or not vegan. 😁"
— Ashe, a Vegan For Beginners Facebook Group member
"Use a vegan app when you go shopping, I use WhatsVegan."
— Dóra, a Vegan For Beginners Facebook Group member
So, what is e219?
E219 is the E-number for sodium methyl p-hydroxybenzoate, commonly known as sodium methylparaben. It is an organic sodium salt used primarily as an antimicrobial agent and antifungal preservative. Food manufacturers use it to inhibit the growth of molds, yeasts, and bacteria in items such as confectionery, snacks, and flavored drinks. It is also widely added to pharmaceutical products and cosmetics to extend shelf life.
This compound is produced industrially through chemical synthesis. Manufacturers react synthetic p-hydroxybenzoic acid with methanol to create methylparaben, which is subsequently neutralized with sodium hydroxide to yield the water-soluble sodium salt. The raw materials, chemical catalysts, and processing agents involved in this manufacturing process are petroleum-derived or mineral-based, requiring no animal tissues or byproducts at any stage.
Because sodium methylparaben is derived entirely through synthetic processes using non-animal inputs, E219 is suitable for vegans.
How to quickly find the source of ingredients like e219?
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It allows you to avoid non-vegan ingredients - just take a picture of a product's ingredient list, and the app tells you if the product is vegan or not.
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