Is e235 vegan?

E235 is the E-number for natamycin, an antifungal food preservative also known as pimaricin. It is produced through the controlled fermentation of the soil bacterium Streptomyces natalensis. Food manufacturers use natamycin primarily as a surface treatment to prevent the growth of molds and yeasts. It appears most frequently on the rinds of hard and semi-hard cheeses, the casings of cured or fermented sausages, and occasionally in packaged baked goods, yogurts, and fruit juices.

E235 is vegan because it originates entirely from microbial synthesis rather than animal tissues or byproducts. The bacteria produce natamycin naturally during their growth cycle, and commercial production relies on microbial cultures grown in nutrient-rich liquid media without animal inputs. Although E235 is frequently applied to non-vegan dairy and meat items to extend shelf life, the substance itself is of microbial origin and contains no animal ingredients.