No artificial colours, preservative or flavourings

WHAT IT REALLY MEANS

Food Standards Agency

You're out shopping and see a label with no artificial colours or preservatives on it.  Normally that would seem a good thing, however it's not really especially if you are vegetarian or vegan.  

I don't like labelling myself, but you could call me a lactose and gluten intolerant pescatarian.  As someone with IBS, I believe its really important to know what's in your food.  You can never be sure what can cause a flare up. A food that is a trigger might not be obvious because it's listed under a E number.  
  

No artificial - means they only use ingredients present or from nature and that they are not produced by chemicals.  All products found in nature includes animals, insects, mineral, as well as plants. 

Some are named on the label, others only appear as an E numbers.  E numbers are not all chemical based.  The E number system is just a method of classification.  So E numbers can come from natural sources too.

So the next time you see this labelling on food, double check the ingredients.  It doesn't guarantee that it's vegetarian or vegan.  

Here are a few examples too look out for the next time your shopping for food.

No artificial colouring
Cochineal, Carmine, Carmine acid (E120)

This red colouring is basically made from an insect that lives on a cactus plant.  They kill the insects, dry them out  and then crush them up.  

No artificial preservative  - 
Shellac - is another product made from insects.  It's used as a confectionery coating or glaze.  It's obtained from secretions from a insect which is native to Thailand.   

The name might be familiar as it's also used to make Shellac Nail Polish and furniture polish.  I'm not going to eat something that can be used in polish! 

No artificial flavourings
Castoreum - Beaver anal gland secretions, which are used as a flavouring in a variety of products.  It smells like vanilla

I had to check this one out, but it's true. So the next time you are buying ice cream make sure it says vanilla extract in the ingredient list and not flavouring.


Other Additives
Gelatin - Is made by boiling either pig or cow feet (bovine).  It's used to make marshmallows and jelly babies.  

Two of my favourite Sweets were marshmallow and Jelly babies.  When I discovered how gelatin was made, I never ate them again.  I've since also put my mother off them.

Safe to eat
There are some ingredients that sound like they may be made from animal or insects, but are not.  These are a few I checked out for myself.  I bought Dairy free ice cream, then started to wonder if it was vegan.  

Locust bean gum  - Though it sounds like another insect, luckily it's made from the seeds of the carob tree.  

This is used for thickening foods, like yogurt and ice cream.  

Carnauba wax - Made from the leaves of the carnauba tree only found in Brazil. 

Again any ingredient that is also used in car wax or polish just should not be in food.  It's food safe and seen as a good alternative too both shellac and beeswax in products.  It's still not enough to convince me to eat it though.  

Lactic Acid & Lactates - Is found in dairy products.  However commercially it's usually produced by fermenting starch and molasses.



Helpful links
If you want to look up more information for yourself.  Here are a few web sites that have useful information.

Vegetarian Society - has a full list if E-numbers that can be derived from plant and/or animal sources.  

British diabetic association  - has a list of dairy additives to look for if you have an allergy or are lactose intolerant.  It's also helpful if you are vegan.  

Dummies.com - Hidden Animal ingredients fact sheet.