l-cysteine
Function: Flour Treatment Agent
E920 is the European food-additive number for l-cysteine, a flour treatment agent — improves baking quality or colour of flour. l-cysteine (E920) is a flour treatment agent used as a food additive.
What is E920 used for?
l-cysteine (E920) is a flour treatment agent — improves baking quality or colour of flour. It is added during food production for a technological purpose rather than for nutrition.
Is E920 safe or restricted?
E920 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 regulatory flags” and does not make health claims. See the methodology for how regulatory levels are assigned.
Frequently asked questions about E920
- What is E920?
- E920 is the E-number for l-cysteine, a flour treatment agent — improves baking quality or colour of flour. l-cysteine (E920) is a flour treatment agent used as a food additive.
- What is E920 used for?
- l-cysteine (E920) is a flour treatment agent — improves baking quality or colour of flour. Manufacturers add it during processing rather than for nutrition. The Forkin app shows which products in your scan history actually contain it.
- Is E920 vegan or vegetarian?
- It depends on the source. Many additives can be produced from plant, mineral, or animal-derived raw materials, and the ingredient list rarely states which was used. The Forkin app shows the verified vegan and vegetarian status per product where it's known, instead of a blanket guess.
- Is E920 safe, and is it banned anywhere?
- E920 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 regulatory flags" 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 E920 — acceptable daily intake (ADI), restrictions by country, vegan/vegetarian status, alternative names, and which products in your scan history contain it.