Is e920 vegan?

E920 is the food additive code for L-cysteine, an amino acid primarily used as a dough conditioner. It improves the elasticity and workability of dough during commercial baking, and it can also function as a flavoring agent. E920 is most commonly found on the ingredient lists of commercially prepared bread, rolls, pizza bases, pastries, and other baked goods.

This additive is classified as possibly vegan because it can be derived from either animal or non-animal sources. Commercial L-cysteine is often extracted from animal materials, such as poultry feathers, pig bristles, and cow horns, through chemical processing. Alternatively, it can be manufactured through bacterial fermentation using plant-derived sugars, or created entirely synthetically.

Standard ingredient labels typically do not state the origin or manufacturing method of the additive. Because animal and non-animal versions result in the exact same chemical compound, looking for a vegan certification or contacting the manufacturer directly is necessary to confirm whether the E920 in a specific product is vegan.