Lecithins
Function: Emulsifiers
E322 is the European food-additive number for Lecithins, an emulsifier — helps ingredients that normally separate, like oil and water, stay mixed. Lecithins (E322) is an antioxidant used as a food additive.
What is E322 used for?
Lecithins (E322) is an emulsifier — helps ingredients that normally separate, like oil and water, stay mixed. It is added during food production for a technological purpose rather than for nutrition. See all Emulsifiers (E-numbers).
Is E322 safe or restricted?
E322 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 E322 vegan or vegetarian?
Lecithins (E322) can be produced from plant, mineral, or animal-derived raw materials, and the ingredient list rarely states which source was used — so its vegan status genuinely depends on the specific product.
Lecithins are frequently produced from soybeans — soy is one of the 14 EU-declarable allergens, so the ingredient list must name the source (for example, ‘soy lecithin’). Sunflower lecithin is the common allergen-free alternative.
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 E322?
E322 appears in 217,933 of the 4.7 million products in Forkin's catalogue — most often in Milk Chocolate, Chocolate Candy, and Dark Chocolate.
- Milk Chocolate15,086
- Chocolate Candy14,401
- Dark Chocolate8,966
- Candy & Sweets8,352
- Chocolate Truffles / Pralines8,252
- Ice Cream8,186
- Cakes7,492
- Biscuits & Cookies7,316
Often appears alongside
Additives most frequently found in the same ingredient lists as E322 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 E322
- What is E322?
- E322 is the E-number for Lecithins, an emulsifier — helps ingredients that normally separate, like oil and water, stay mixed. Lecithins (E322) is an antioxidant used as a food additive.
- What is E322 used for?
- Lecithins (E322) is an emulsifier — helps ingredients that normally separate, like oil and water, stay mixed. 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 E322?
- E322 appears in 217,933 of the 4.7 million products in Forkin's catalogue — most often in Milk Chocolate, Chocolate Candy, and Dark Chocolate. Scan any barcode with the Forkin app to see instantly whether a specific product contains it.
- Is E322 vegan or vegetarian?
- Lecithins (E322) can be produced from plant, mineral, or animal-derived raw materials, and the ingredient list rarely states which source was used — so its vegan status genuinely depends on the specific product. Lecithins are frequently produced from soybeans — soy is one of the 14 EU-declarable allergens, so the ingredient list must name the source (for example, ‘soy lecithin’). Sunflower lecithin is the common allergen-free alternative. The Forkin app shows the verified vegan and vegetarian status per product, since the source can vary between manufacturers.
- Is E322 safe, and is it banned anywhere?
- E322 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 E322 — 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.