Is Glycine (E640) Vegan?

Also known as: Glycine and its sodium salt, Aminoacetic acid, Glycocoll, Sodium glycinate, INS 640

Vegan

Last checked How we decide

Glycine is vegan. Patents from 2005 and 2022 describe industrial synthesis from formaldehyde, hydrogen cyanide and ammonia. Isolation from gelatin, cattle ligaments or silk appears only in laboratory and patent records from 1924 to 1943.

What is Glycine?

Glycine is the simplest amino acid, a white crystalline powder. E640 covers glycine and its sodium salt, sodium glycinate.

Ingredient Data

Vegan Status

Vegan

E-Number

E640

Also Known As

Glycine and its sodium salt; Aminoacetic acid; Glycocoll; Sodium glycinate; INS 640

Source

Producers make glycine by chemical synthesis: the Strecker route from formaldehyde, hydrogen cyanide and ammonia, the hydantoin route, or chloroacetic acid with ammonia. Isolation from gelatin, cattle ligaments or silk appears only in laboratory and patent records from 1924 to 1943.

Commonly Found In

In the EU a Group I additive permitted at quantum satis in many foods; US rules name saccharin-sweetened beverages, where it masks the aftertaste.

Additional Notes

Glycine or E640 on a label is the synthesized amino acid. Gelatin and collagen are separate ingredients with their own entries.

Frequently asked questions

Is glycine made from gelatin?

Not in the manufacturing described in patents from 2005 and 2022, which start from formaldehyde, hydrogen cyanide and ammonia. Isolation from gelatin, cattle ligaments or silk appears only in laboratory and patent records from 1924 to 1943.

Is sodium glycinate vegan?

Yes. Sodium glycinate is the sodium salt of glycine, listed under the same number E640, so it follows the same synthetic origin.

Sources

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Related entries

Gelatin

Not Vegan

Collagen

Depends on Source

L-Cysteine

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Monosodium Glutamate

E621

Vegan