Is Pectin (E440) Vegan?

Vegan status: Vegan

E-number: E440

Also known as: Apple pectin, Citrus pectin, Amidated pectin (E440ii)

Source

Extracted from the cell walls of plants, primarily from apple pomace (the solid waste from apple juice production) or citrus peel (from the orange juice industry). Entirely plant-derived.

Commonly found in

Jams, jellies, marmalades, sweets, fruit preparations. The key gelling agent in jam making. Also used in some medications and dietary supplements.

Vegan alternative: No substitute needed — E440 is vegan. It is in fact the vegan alternative to gelatin for jam setting.

Notes

Pectin is one of the key reasons home-made jam can be vegan while some commercial confectionery is not (which may use gelatin instead). High-methoxyl pectins require sugar and acid to gel; low-methoxyl pectins gel with calcium ions regardless of sugar content. Apple pectin and citrus pectin behave slightly differently in applications.