Some science behind the scenes
E numbers and vaccines
E numbers, names and vaccines
This list shows all substances that have or had an E-number assigned AND which are also in vaccines. Not all additives listed are still allowed in the EU, but are listed as they used to have an E-number. The list was taken from Wikipedia mid 2014. Using the List of Ingredients in vaccines – also on Wikipedia, I have provided a list of which vaccines according to them contain which E numbered products.
This list of vaccine ingredients indicates the culture media used in the production of common vaccines and the excipients they contain. Also listed are substances used in the manufacturing process.
In some cases the name given by the manufacturer was so vague it was very difficult to home in on exact E number categories. Furthermore there are excipients in vaccines that have no E number classification. Thus this list needs to be used as a general guide – an indicator of the E numbers it might be wise to avoid if you have had a vaccination.
E100–E199 (colours)
|
Code |
Name(s) |
Use |
Vaccine? |
|
E101a |
Riboflavin-5'-Phosphate |
Yellow-orange |
Hepatitis A vaccine (Havrix) Varicella vaccine (Varivax) Meningococcal vaccine (Menactra) HepA/HepB vaccine (Twinrix) Hepatitis B vaccine (Engerix-B) |
|
E106 |
Riboflavin-5-Sodium Phosphate |
Yellow |
DTaP (Tripedia) Hepatitis A vaccine (Havrix) Zoster vaccine (Zostavax) Varicella vaccine (Varivax) Rotavirus vaccine (RotaTeq) MMRV vaccine (ProQuad) MMR vaccine (MMR-II) Meningococcal vaccine (Menactra) Influenza vaccine (Fluzone) Influenza vaccine (Afluria) HepA/HepB vaccine (Twinrix) Hepatitis B vaccine (Engerix-B) |
|
E110 |
Sunset Yellow FCF (Orange Yellow S, FD&C Yellow 6) |
Yellow-orange |
Adenovirus vaccine |
|
E170 |
Calcium carbonate, Chalk |
White |
Rotavirus vaccine (Rotarix) |
|
E173 |
Aluminium |
Silver to grey |
Adenovirus vaccine |
|
E223 |
Sodium metabisulphite |
preservative |
Japanese encephalitis vaccine (Ixiaro) |
|
E231 |
Orthophenyl phenol |
preservative |
Vaccinia (ACAM2000) Typhoid vaccine (inactivated – Typhim Vi) Rabies vaccine (Imovax) Pneumococcal vaccine (Pneumovax) |
|
E232 |
Sodium orthophenyl phenol |
preservative |
Vaccinia (ACAM2000) Typhoid vaccine (inactivated – Typhim Vi) Rabies vaccine (Imovax) Pneumococcal vaccine (Pneumovax) |
|
E240 |
Formaldehyde |
preservative |
Anthrax vaccine (BioThrax) DTaP (Daptacel) DTaP (Infanrix) DTaP (Tripedia) DTaP/Hib (TriHIBit) DTaP-IPV (Kinrix) DTaP-HepB-IPV (Pediarix) DtaP-IPV/Hib (Pentacel) DT (diphtheria vaccine plus tetanus vaccine) (Sanofi) DT (Massachusetts) Hib vaccine (ACTHib) Hib/Hep B (Comvax) Hepatitis A vaccine (Havrix) Tdap vaccine (Boostrix) Tdap vaccine (Adacel) Td vaccine (Mass) Td vaccine (Decavac) Polio vaccine (IPV - Ipol) Meningococcal vaccine (Menveo) Meningococcal vaccine (Menactra) Japanese encephalitis vaccine (Ixiaro) Japanese encephalitis vaccine (JE-Vax) Influenza vaccine (Fluzone) Influenza vaccine (Flulaval) HepA/HepB vaccine (Twinrix) Hepatitis B vaccine (Recombivax) Hepatitis A vaccine (Vaqta) |
|
E300 |
Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) |
antioxidant |
Typhoid vaccine (oral – Ty21a/Vivotif) |
|
E304 |
Fatty acid esters of ascorbic acid (Ascorbyl palmitate) |
antioxidant |
Typhoid vaccine (oral – Ty21a/Vivotif) |
|
E307 |
Alpha-tocopherol (synthetic) |
antioxidant |
Influenza vaccine (Flulaval) Influenza vaccine (Fluarix)
|
|
E330 |
Citric acid |
acid, acidity regulator |
BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guérin) (Tice) |
|
E331 |
Sodium citrates (i) Monosodium citrate (ii) Disodium citrate (iii) Sodium citrate (trisodium citrate) |
acidity regulator |
Rotavirus vaccine (RotaTeq) |
|
E339 |
Sodium phosphates (i) Monosodium phosphate (ii) Disodium phosphate (iii) Trisodium phosphate |
antioxidant |
Hepatitis A vaccine (Havrix) Zoster vaccine (Zostavax) Varicella vaccine (Varivax) Varicella vaccine (Varivax) Typhoid vaccine (inactivated – Typhim Vi) Rotavirus vaccine (RotaTeq) MMRV vaccine (ProQuad) MMR vaccine (MMR-II) Meningococcal vaccine (Menactra) Influenza vaccine (Fluzone) Influenza vaccine (Afluria) HepA/HepB vaccine (Twinrix) Hepatitis B vaccine (Engerix-B) |
|
E340 |
Potassium phosphates (i) Monopotassium phosphate (ii) Dipotassium phosphate (iii) Tripotassium phosphate |
antioxidant |
Adenovirus vaccine BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guérin) (Tice) Hepatitis A vaccine (Havrix) Zoster vaccine (Zostavax) Varicella vaccine (Varivax) Varicella vaccine (Varivax) MMRV vaccine (ProQuad) Meningococcal vaccine (Menactra) Influenza vaccine (FluMist) Influenza vaccine (Afluria) HepA/HepB vaccine (Twinrix) Hepatitis B vaccine (Engerix-B) |
|
E341 |
Calcium phosphates (i) Monocalcium phosphate (ii) Dicalcium phosphate (iii) Tricalcium phosphate |
anti-caking agent, firming agent |
Hepatitis A vaccine (Havrix) Varicella vaccine (Varivax) Meningococcal vaccine (Menactra) HepA/HepB vaccine (Twinrix) Hepatitis B vaccine (Engerix-B) |
|
E342 |
Ammonium phosphates: (i) monoammonium phosphate (ii) diammonium phosphate |
Hepatitis A vaccine (Havrix) Varicella vaccine (Varivax) Td vaccine (Mass) Meningococcal vaccine (Menactra) HepA/HepB vaccine (Twinrix) Hepatitis B vaccine (Engerix-B) |
|
|
E343 |
Magnesium phosphates (i) monomagnesium phosphate (ii) Dimagnesium phosphate |
anti-caking agent |
Hepatitis A vaccine (Havrix) Varicella vaccine (Varivax) Meningococcal vaccine (Menactra) HepA/HepB vaccine (Twinrix) Hepatitis B vaccine (Engerix-B) |
|
E383 |
Calcium glycerylphosphate |
acidity regulator |
Hepatitis A vaccine (Havrix) Varicella vaccine (Varivax) Meningococcal vaccine (Menactra) HepA/HepB vaccine (Twinrix) Hepatitis B vaccine (Engerix-B) |
|
E385 |
Calcium disodium ethylene diamine tetraacetate, (Calcium disodium EDTA) |
sequestrant |
Varicella vaccine (Varivax) Influenza vaccine (FluMist) |
|
E386 |
Disodium ethylene diamine tetraacetate (Disodium EDTA) |
sequestrant |
Varicella vaccine (Varivax) Influenza vaccine (FluMist) |
|
E408 |
Bakers yeast glycan |
DTaP-HepB-IPV (Pediarix) Hib/Hep B (Comvax) Typhoid vaccine (oral – Ty21a/Vivotif) Pneumococcal vaccine (Prevnar) Meningococcal vaccine (Menveo) Human papillomavirus (HPV) (Gardasil) HepA/HepB vaccine (Twinrix) Hepatitis B vaccine (Recombivax) Hepatitis B vaccine (Engerix-B) |
|
|
E415 |
Xanthan gum (thickener) |
stabiliser |
Rotavirus vaccine (Rotarix) |
|
E420 |
Sorbitol (i) Sorbitol (ii) Sorbitol syrup (emulsifier) (sweetener) |
humectant |
Yellow fever vaccine (YF-Vax) Rotavirus vaccine (Rotarix) MMRV vaccine (ProQuad) MMR vaccine (MMR-II) |
|
E421 |
Mannitol (anti-caking agent) |
sweetener |
Vaccinia (ACAM2000) |
|
E426 |
Soybean hemicellulose |
Adenovirus vaccine Hib/Hep B (Comvax) Hepatitis B vaccine (Recombivax) |
|
|
E429 |
Peptones |
DTaP (Tripedia) Td vaccine (Decavac) |
|
|
E432 |
Polyoxyethene (20) sorbitan monolaurate (polysorbate 20) |
emulsifier |
Hepatitis A vaccine (Havrix) HepA/HepB vaccine (Twinrix) |
|
E433 |
Polyoxyethene (20) sorbitan monooleate (polysorbate 80) |
emulsifier |
DTaP (Infanrix) DTaP (Tripedia) DTaP/Hib (TriHIBit) DTaP-IPV (Kinrix) DTaP-HepB-IPV (Pediarix) DtaP-IPV/Hib (Pentacel) Tdap vaccine (Boostrix) Rotavirus vaccine (RotaTeq) Pneumococcal vaccine (Prevnar) Japanese encephalitis vaccine (JE-Vax) Influenza vaccine (Flulaval) Influenza vaccine (Fluarix) Human papillomavirus (HPV) (Gardasil)
|
|
E441 |
Gelatine (emulsifier) |
gelling agent |
DTaP (Tripedia) DTaP/Hib (TriHIBit) Zoster vaccine (Zostavax) Yellow fever vaccine (YF-Vax) Varicella vaccine (Varivax) Rabies vaccine (RabAvert) MMRV vaccine (ProQuad) MMR vaccine (MMR-II) Japanese encephalitis vaccine (JE-Vax) Influenza vaccine (FluMist) Influenza vaccine (Fluzone) |
|
E444 |
Sucrose acetate isobutyrate |
emulsifier |
Adenovirus vaccine DTaP/Hib (TriHIBit) Hib vaccine (ACTHib) Varicella vaccine (Varivax) Typhoid vaccine (oral – Ty21a/Vivotif) Rotavirus vaccine (Rotarix) Rotavirus vaccine (RotaTeq) MMRV vaccine (ProQuad) MMR vaccine (MMR-II) |
|
E450 |
Diphosphates (i) Disodium diphosphate (ii) Trisodium diphosphate (iii) Tetrasodium diphosphate (iv) Dipotassium diphosphate (v) Tetrapotassium diphosphate (vi) Dicalcium diphosphate (vii) Calcium dihydrogen diphosphate |
emulsifier |
Hepatitis A vaccine (Havrix) Varicella vaccine (Varivax) Typhoid vaccine (inactivated – Typhim Vi) Meningococcal vaccine (Menactra) HepA/HepB vaccine (Twinrix) Hepatitis B vaccine (Engerix-B) |
|
E451 |
Triphosphates (i) Sodium triphosphate (pentasodium triphosphate) (ii) Pentapotassium triphosphate |
emulsifier |
Hepatitis A vaccine (Havrix) Varicella vaccine (Varivax) Meningococcal vaccine (Menactra) HepA/HepB vaccine (Twinrix) Hepatitis B vaccine (Engerix-B) |
|
E452 |
Polyphosphates (i) Sodium polyphosphates (ii) Potassium polyphosphates (iii) Sodium calcium polyphosphate (iv) Calcium polyphosphates (v) Ammonium polyphosphate |
emulsifier |
Hepatitis A vaccine (Havrix) Varicella vaccine (Varivax) Meningococcal vaccine (Menactra) HepA/HepB vaccine (Twinrix) Hepatitis B vaccine (Engerix-B) |
|
E460 |
Cellulose (i) Microcrystalline cellulose (ii) Powdered cellulose |
emulsifier |
Adenovirus vaccine |
|
E461 |
Methyl cellulose |
emulsifier |
Adenovirus vaccine |
|
E462 |
Ethyl cellulose |
emulsifier |
Adenovirus vaccine |
|
E463 |
Hydroxypropyl cellulose |
emulsifier |
Adenovirus vaccine |
|
E464 |
Hypromellose (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose) |
emulsifier |
Adenovirus vaccine |
|
E465 |
Ethyl methyl cellulose |
emulsifier |
Adenovirus vaccine |
|
E466 |
Carboxymethyl cellulose, Sodium carboxy methyl cellulose |
emulsifier |
Adenovirus vaccine |
|
E467 |
Ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose |
Adenovirus vaccine |
|
|
E468 |
Crosslinked sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (Croscarmellose) |
emulsifier |
Adenovirus vaccine |
|
E469 |
Enzymically hydrolysed carboxymethylcellulose |
emulsifier |
Adenovirus vaccine |
|
E472c |
Citric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids |
emulsifier |
BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guérin) (Tice) |
|
E473 |
Sucrose esters of fatty acids |
emulsifier |
Adenovirus vaccine DTaP/Hib (TriHIBit) Typhoid vaccine (oral – Ty21a/Vivotif) Rotavirus vaccine (RotaTeq) MMRV vaccine (ProQuad) |
|
E479b |
Thermally oxidized soya bean oil interacted with mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids |
emulsifier |
Hib/Hep B (Comvax) Hepatitis B vaccine (Recombivax) |
|
E498 |
Partial polyglycerol esters of polycondensed fatty acids of castor oil |
Adenovirus vaccine |
|
|
E500 |
Sodium carbonates (i) Sodium carbonate (ii) Sodium bicarbonate (Sodium hydrogen carbonate) (iii) Sodium sesquicarbonate (acidity regulator) |
raising agent |
Adenovirus vaccine MMRV vaccine (ProQuad) |
|
E508 |
Potassium chloride (gelling agent) |
seasoning |
Zoster vaccine (Zostavax) Varicella vaccine (Varivax) MMRV vaccine (ProQuad) Influenza vaccine (Afluria) |
|
E509 |
Calcium chloride (sequestrant) |
firming agent |
Influenza vaccine (Afluria) |
|
E517 |
Ammonium sulphate |
acidity regulator |
DTaP/Hib (TriHIBit) Hib vaccine (ACTHib) Tdap vaccine (Adacel) Pneumococcal vaccine (Prevnar) |
|
E520 |
Aluminium sulphate |
firming agent |
Adenovirus vaccine |
|
E521 |
Aluminium sodium sulphate |
firming agent |
Adenovirus vaccine |
|
E522 |
Aluminium potassium sulphate |
acidity regulator |
Adenovirus vaccine DTaP (Tripedia) DTaP/Hib (TriHIBit) DT (diphtheria vaccine plus tetanus vaccine) (Sanofi) Td vaccine (Decavac) |
|
E523 |
Aluminium ammonium sulphate |
acidity regulator |
Adenovirus vaccine DTaP (Tripedia) DTaP/Hib (TriHIBit) Hib vaccine (ACTHib) Tdap vaccine (Adacel) Pneumococcal vaccine (Prevnar) |
|
E524 |
Sodium hydroxide |
acidity regulator |
Rotavirus vaccine (RotaTeq) |
|
E540 |
Dicalcium diphosphate (acidity regulator) |
emulsifier |
Hepatitis A vaccine (Havrix) Varicella vaccine (Varivax) Meningococcal vaccine (Menactra) HepA/HepB vaccine (Twinrix) Hepatitis B vaccine (Engerix-B) |
|
E541 |
Sodium aluminium phosphate (i) Acidic (ii) Basic |
emulsifier |
Adenovirus vaccine DTaP (Daptacel) DTaP-HepB-IPV (Pediarix) DtaP-IPV/Hib (Pentacel) Hepatitis A vaccine (Havrix) Varicella vaccine (Varivax) Tdap vaccine (Adacel) Td vaccine (Mass) Pneumococcal vaccine (Prevnar) Meningococcal vaccine (Menactra) HepA/HepB vaccine (Twinrix) HepA/HepB vaccine (Twinrix) Hepatitis B vaccine (Engerix-B) |
|
E542 |
Bone phosphate (Essentiale Calcium Phosphate, Tribasic) |
anti-caking agent |
Hepatitis A vaccine (Havrix) Varicella vaccine (Varivax) Hepatitis B vaccine (Engerix-B) Meningococcal vaccine (Menactra) HepA/HepB vaccine (Twinrix) |
|
E543 |
Calcium sodium polyphosphate |
emulsifier |
Hepatitis A vaccine (Havrix) Varicella vaccine (Varivax) Meningococcal vaccine (Menactra) HepA/HepB vaccine (Twinrix) Hepatitis B vaccine (Engerix-B) |
|
E544 |
Calcium polyphosphate |
emulsifier |
Hepatitis A vaccine (Havrix) Varicella vaccine (Varivax) Meningococcal vaccine (Menactra) HepA/HepB vaccine (Twinrix) Hepatitis B vaccine (Engerix-B) |
|
E545 |
Ammonium polyphosphate |
emulsifier |
Hepatitis A vaccine (Havrix) Varicella vaccine (Varivax) Meningococcal vaccine (Menactra) HepA/HepB vaccine (Twinrix) Hepatitis B vaccine (Engerix-B) |
|
E554 |
Sodium aluminosilicate (sodium aluminium silicate) |
anti-caking agent |
Adenovirus vaccine |
|
E555 |
Potassium aluminium silicate |
anti-caking agent |
Adenovirus vaccine |
|
E556 |
Calcium aluminosilicate (calcium aluminium silicate) |
anti-caking agent |
Adenovirus vaccine |
|
E559 |
Aluminium silicate (Kaolin) |
anti-caking agent |
Adenovirus vaccine |
|
E572 |
Magnesium stearate, calcium stearate (emulsifier) |
anti-caking agent |
Adenovirus vaccine |
|
E621 |
Monosodium glutamate (MSG) |
flavour enhancer |
Zoster vaccine (Zostavax) Varicella vaccine (Varivax) MMRV vaccine (ProQuad) MMR vaccine (MMR-II) Influenza vaccine (FluMist) |
|
E622 |
Monopotassium glutamate |
flavour enhancer |
Varicella vaccine (Varivax) Rabies vaccine (RabAvert) MMR vaccine (MMR-II) |
|
E623 |
Calcium diglutamate |
flavour enhancer |
Varicella vaccine (Varivax) MMR vaccine (MMR-II) |
|
E624 |
Monoammonium glutamate |
flavour enhancer |
Varicella vaccine (Varivax) MMR vaccine (MMR-II) |
|
E625 |
Magnesium diglutamate |
flavour enhancer |
Varicella vaccine (Varivax) MMR vaccine (MMR-II) |
|
E702 |
Chlortetracycline |
antibiotic |
Rabies vaccine (RabAvert) |
|
E929 |
Acetone peroxide |
Adenovirus vaccine |
|
|
E955 |
Sucralose (Trichlorogalactosucrose) |
sweetener |
Adenovirus vaccine DTaP/Hib (TriHIBit) Zoster vaccine (Zostavax) Varicella vaccine (Varivax) Typhoid vaccine (oral – Ty21a/Vivotif) Rotavirus vaccine (RotaTeq) MMRV vaccine (ProQuad) |
|
E1200 |
Polydextrose |
stabiliser, thickening agent, humectant, carrier |
Adenovirus vaccine Hib/Hep B (Comvax) Typhoid vaccine (oral – Ty21a/Vivotif) Hepatitis B vaccine (Recombivax) |
|
E1203 |
Polyvinyl alcohol |
Adenovirus vaccine |
|
|
E1410 |
Monostarch phosphate (stabiliser) |
thickening agent |
Hepatitis A vaccine (Havrix) Varicella vaccine (Varivax) Meningococcal vaccine (Menactra) HepA/HepB vaccine (Twinrix) Hepatitis B vaccine (Engerix-B) |
|
E1412 |
Distarch phosphate esterified with sodium trimetasphosphate; esterified with phosphorus oxychloride (stabiliser) |
thickening agent |
Hepatitis A vaccine (Havrix) Varicella vaccine (Varivax) Meningococcal vaccine (Menactra) HepA/HepB vaccine (Twinrix) Hepatitis B vaccine (Engerix-B) |
|
E1413 |
Phosphated distarch phosphate (stabiliser) |
thickening agent |
Hepatitis A vaccine (Havrix) Varicella vaccine (Varivax) Meningococcal vaccine (Menactra) HepA/HepB vaccine (Twinrix) Hepatitis B vaccine (Engerix-B) |
|
E1414 |
Acetylated distarch phosphate (emulsifier) |
thickening agent |
Hepatitis A vaccine (Havrix) Varicella vaccine (Varivax) Meningococcal vaccine (Menactra) HepA/HepB vaccine (Twinrix) Hepatitis B vaccine (Engerix-B) |
|
E1430 |
Distarch glycerine (stabiliser) |
thickening agent |
BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guérin) (Tice) Vaccinia (ACAM2000) |
|
E1441 |
Hydroxy propyl distarch glycerine (stabiliser) |
thickening agent |
BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guérin) (Tice) Vaccinia (ACAM2000) |
|
E1442 |
Hydroxy propyl distarch phosphate (stabiliser) |
thickening agent |
Hepatitis A vaccine (Havrix) Varicella vaccine (Varivax) Meningococcal vaccine (Menactra) HepA/HepB vaccine (Twinrix) Hepatitis B vaccine (Engerix-B) |
|
E1452 |
Starch aluminium octenyl succinate |
Adenovirus vaccine |
|
|
E1503 |
Castor oil |
resolving agent |
Adenovirus vaccine |
|
E1519 |
Benzyl alcohol |
Adenovirus vaccine |
|
|
E1525 |
Hydroxyethyl cellulose |
thickening agent |
Adenovirus vaccine |