Phytic acid
Function: Antioxidants
E391 is the European food-additive number for Phytic acid, an antioxidant — used to stop fats and oils going rancid and to protect colour. Phytic acid (E391) is a food additive used as a food additive.
What is E391 used for?
Phytic acid (E391) 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 E391 safe or restricted?
E391 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 E391 vegan or vegetarian?
Phytic acid (E391) 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 E391?
E391 appears in 35 of the 4.7 million products in Forkin's catalogue — most often in Sausages, Beef (General), and Face Moisturizer.
- Sausages2
- Beef (General)2
- Face Moisturizer1
- Pretzels1
- Frozen Meals1
- Lasagna Sheets1
- Plain Yogurt1
- Chewing Gum1
Often appears alongside
Additives most frequently found in the same ingredient lists as E391 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 E391
- What is E391?
- E391 is the E-number for Phytic acid, an antioxidant — used to stop fats and oils going rancid and to protect colour. Phytic acid (E391) is a food additive used as a food additive.
- What is E391 used for?
- Phytic acid (E391) 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 E391?
- E391 appears in 35 of the 4.7 million products in Forkin's catalogue — most often in Sausages, Beef (General), and Face Moisturizer. Scan any barcode with the Forkin app to see instantly whether a specific product contains it.
- Is E391 vegan or vegetarian?
- Phytic acid (E391) 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 E391 safe, and is it banned anywhere?
- E391 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 E391 — 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.