iron gluconate
Function: Food colours
E579 is the European food-additive number for iron gluconate, a colour — added to give or restore colour to food. IRONII GLUCONATE, or ferrous gluconate,[1] is a black compound often used as an iron supplement.
What is E579 used for?
iron gluconate (E579) is a colour — added to give or restore colour to food. It is added during food production for a technological purpose rather than for nutrition. See all Food colours (E-numbers).
Is E579 safe or restricted?
E579 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 E579 vegan or vegetarian?
iron gluconate (E579) 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 E579?
E579 appears in 2,158 of the 4.7 million products in Forkin's catalogue — most often in Olives, Pizza, and Prepared Green Salads.
- Olives684
- Pizza250
- Prepared Green Salads72
- Coleslaw & Deli Salads71
- Protein Powder / Shake65
- Frozen Pizza59
- Prepared Pasta & Grain Salads58
- Candy & Sweets48
Often appears alongside
Additives most frequently found in the same ingredient lists as E579 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 E579
- What is E579?
- E579 is the E-number for iron gluconate, a colour — added to give or restore colour to food. IRONII GLUCONATE, or ferrous gluconate,[1] is a black compound often used as an iron supplement.
- What is E579 used for?
- iron gluconate (E579) is a colour — added to give or restore colour to food. 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 E579?
- E579 appears in 2,158 of the 4.7 million products in Forkin's catalogue — most often in Olives, Pizza, and Prepared Green Salads. Scan any barcode with the Forkin app to see instantly whether a specific product contains it.
- Is E579 vegan or vegetarian?
- iron gluconate (E579) 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 E579 safe, and is it banned anywhere?
- E579 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 E579 — 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.