what is vegan

Is e556 vegan?

E556 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 e556?

E556 is the E-number for calcium aluminium silicate, an inorganic compound primarily used as an anti-caking agent in processed foods. It is a mineral substance composed of calcium, aluminium, silicon, and oxygen. In commercial food production, it is typically manufactured synthetically by reacting calcium hydroxide, aluminium salts, and sodium silicate under controlled conditions, though it can also be derived from naturally occurring mineral deposits.

Food manufacturers add E556 to powdered and granulated products to prevent clumping, improve flowability, and protect against humidity. It is commonly found in dry drink mixes, table salt, baking powders, powdered soups, seasoning blends, and various dehydrated food products.

E556 is vegan because it is derived exclusively from mineral and synthetic raw materials. No animal-derived substances, tissues, or processing aids are used during its extraction or chemical synthesis. Consequently, calcium aluminium silicate is completely free from animal sources and suitable for a vegan diet.

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