Is e900 vegan?

E900 is the European code for dimethylpolysiloxane, a silicone-based substance used as an antifoaming agent. It is a synthetic polymer created chemically through the reaction of elemental silicon with methyl chloride, followed by hydrolysis. Food manufacturers widely use E900 to suppress foam formation during high-temperature frying and industrial food preparation. It is commonly found in commercial frying oils, fast-food fried items, carbonated soft drinks, processed jams, syrups, and packaged soups.

E900 is vegan because its production relies entirely on mineral and synthetic materials with no animal involvement. The initial silicon is derived from silica, a naturally occurring mineral compound found in sand and quartz, which is then processed using petrochemically derived substances. Since no animals, animal byproducts, or animal-derived processing aids are used during its synthesis, dimethylpolysiloxane is completely free of animal inputs and suitable for people following a vegan lifestyle.