Is orthophénylphénol vegan?

"Orthophénylphénol" is the French term for orthophenylphenol, also known by the food additive code E231 or 2-phenylphenol, which functions primarily as an agricultural fungicide and preservative. On food packaging, it most commonly appears on citrus fruits, such as oranges, lemons, and grapefruits, as well as on apples and pears. It is applied as a post-harvest treatment or incorporated into protective surface waxes to prevent mold growth and extend the shelf life of the produce during transit and storage.

This compound is produced entirely through industrial chemical synthesis, typically derived from petrochemical raw materials such as cyclohexanone. The manufacturing process does not use any animal tissues, animal-derived ingredients, or processing aids of animal origin. Because orthophénylphénol originates solely from synthetic chemical sources and involves no animal inputs, it is considered vegan.