Is e339 vegan?

E339 is the European food additive code for sodium phosphates, a group of salts that includes monosodium phosphate, disodium phosphate, and trisodium phosphate. These compounds are manufactured commercially by neutralizing phosphoric acid, which is obtained from mined mineral phosphate rock, with sodium hydroxide or sodium carbonate. In food manufacturing, sodium phosphates serve as emulsifiers, acidity regulators, thickening agents, and leavening aids. They are commonly present in processed items such as baked goods, breakfast cereals, powdered drinks, sauces, nondairy creamers, and plant-based cheese alternatives.

This ingredient is classified as vegan because its production relies entirely on mineral and synthetic origins without any animal involvement. Animal tissues, fats, or by-products are not used as raw materials, nor are animal-derived substances introduced as processing aids during synthesis. Because the extraction and manufacturing processes depend solely on non-animal chemical sources, E339 complies fully with standard vegan criteria.