This surprises people, but it is good news for the vegan question: the fermentation route uses sugar and a mould, with no animal input. Citric acid is vegan. The related salts, the citrates, are made from it and are vegan too.
Lactic acid (E270)Lactic acid sounds like it should be dairy. In a factory it is made by fermenting plant sugars, and the milk connection is mostly in the name.
Ascorbic acid (vitamin C, E300)Ascorbic acid is vitamin C, the antioxidant on a thousand labels. It is built from glucose, which is about as plant-based as a starting material gets.
Monosodium glutamate (MSG, E621)MSG is savoury seasoning made the way vinegar is: fermentation. Its reputation has taken more hits than it deserves, and none of them is that it is an animal product.
Frequently asked
Is E330 vegan?
Yes. E330 is citric acid, made by fermenting sugar with a mould, so it is plant-based and vegan.
Is citric acid made from lemons?
Rarely. Almost all commercial citric acid is produced by mould fermentation of sugar rather than extracted from citrus fruit. Either way, it is vegan.
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