Is e635 vegan?

E635 is the food additive code for disodium 5'-ribonucleotides, a flavor enhancer commonly used to produce a savory umami taste. It consists of a blend of two compounds, disodium inosinate and disodium guanylate. The ingredient is manufactured by breaking down ribonucleic acid, which can be achieved through chemical synthesis or bacterial fermentation. It is frequently found in savory processed foods such as instant noodles, flavored snack chips, seasoning packets, canned soups, bouillons, and prepared sauces.

This additive is considered possibly vegan because its precursors can come from either plant or animal origins. Plant-based production typically utilizes yeast extracts, tapioca starch, or fermented vegetable sugars. Alternatively, the raw materials can be obtained from animal tissues, most notably meat extracts or fish such as sardines. Standard food labeling does not require companies to specify the starting material used during production. Consequently, determining whether a product containing e635 is free from animal derivatives requires checking for an official vegan certification on the packaging or contacting the manufacturer directly.