Gum Guaicum
Function: Antioxidants
E241 is the European food-additive number for Gum Guaicum, an antioxidant — used to stop fats and oils going rancid and to protect colour. GUM GUAICUM, or guaiac resin, is a substance produced from the tree species Guaiacum officinale.
What is E241 used for?
Gum Guaicum (E241) is an antioxidant — used to stop fats and oils going rancid and to protect colour. It is added during food production for a technological purpose rather than for nutrition. See all Antioxidants (E-numbers).
Is E241 safe or restricted?
E241 is an approved food additive in the EU and currently carries no special regulatory restrictions in the EU additive register. Forkin classifies it as “No known concern” and does not make health claims. See the methodology for how regulatory levels are assigned, or the guide to how EU additives are approved, re-evaluated and banned.
Is E241 vegan or vegetarian?
Gum Guaicum (E241) is typically produced from plant, mineral, or synthetic sources, so it is generally suitable for vegans and vegetarians.
The production source can vary between manufacturers — the Forkin app shows the verified vegan and vegetarian status per product. Always read the label for allergens.
Which foods contain E241?
E241 appears in 16 of the 4.7 million products in Forkin's catalogue — most often in Pork (General), Dressings, and Onion.
- Pork (General)2
- Dressings2
- Onion1
- Sausages1
- Marzipan1
- Potato Chips1
- Mustard1
- Stews & Chili1
Often appears alongside
Additives most frequently found in the same ingredient lists as E241 across the catalogue.
Counts reflect Forkin's independently enriched product catalogue and update as new products are added — they are not a market-share statistic.
Frequently asked questions about E241
- What is E241?
- E241 is the E-number for Gum Guaicum, an antioxidant — used to stop fats and oils going rancid and to protect colour. GUM GUAICUM, or guaiac resin, is a substance produced from the tree species Guaiacum officinale.
- What is E241 used for?
- Gum Guaicum (E241) is an antioxidant — used to stop fats and oils going rancid and to protect colour. Manufacturers add it during processing rather than for nutrition. The Forkin app shows which products in your scan history actually contain it.
- Which foods contain E241?
- E241 appears in 16 of the 4.7 million products in Forkin's catalogue — most often in Pork (General), Dressings, and Onion. Scan any barcode with the Forkin app to see instantly whether a specific product contains it.
- Is E241 vegan or vegetarian?
- Gum Guaicum (E241) is typically produced from plant, mineral, or synthetic sources, so it is generally suitable for vegans and vegetarians. The Forkin app shows the verified vegan and vegetarian status per product, since the source can vary between manufacturers.
- Is E241 safe, and is it banned anywhere?
- E241 is an approved food additive in the EU and currently carries no special regulatory restrictions in the EU additive register. Forkin classifies it as ‘No known concern’ and does not make health claims — see the methodology page for how regulatory levels are assigned, and the Forkin app for the full profile, including acceptable daily intake (ADI) and restrictions by country.
See the full profile in Forkin
The Forkin app surfaces the full regulatory profile of E241 — acceptable daily intake (ADI), restrictions by country, vegan and vegetarian status, alternative names, and which products in your scan history contain it. See view pricing.