Is e585 vegan?

E585 is the food additive code for ferrous lactate, an iron salt of lactic acid used primarily as a color stabilizer and nutritional fortifier. It is manufactured by reacting lactic acid with an iron source, such as ferrous carbonate or elemental iron. The lactic acid used in modern commercial production is obtained through the bacterial fermentation of plant-derived carbohydrates, typically corn starch, sugar beets, or sugarcane molasses. The iron component is sourced from natural minerals.

This additive is most frequently listed in canned black olives, where it serves as a color retention agent to produce and stabilize their characteristic dark shade. It also appears as an iron fortifier in certain breakfast cereals, baked goods, and dietary supplements. E585 is classified as vegan because both the lactic acid and the iron compounds used in its synthesis are of plant, microbial, and mineral origin, involving no animal-derived ingredients or byproducts.