Ethyl lauroyl arginate
Function: Preservative
E243 is the European food-additive number for Ethyl lauroyl arginate, a preservative — used to extend shelf life by slowing spoilage from microbes. Ethyl lauroyl arginate (E243) is a preservative used as a food additive.
What is E243 used for?
Ethyl lauroyl arginate (E243) is a preservative — used to extend shelf life by slowing spoilage from microbes. It is added during food production for a technological purpose rather than for nutrition. See all preservatives (E-numbers).
Is E243 safe or restricted?
E243 is approved for use in the EU. It sits among the additives EFSA keeps under ongoing review as new evidence is published. Forkin classifies it as “Under monitoring” 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 E243 vegan or vegetarian?
Ethyl lauroyl arginate (E243) 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 E243?
E243 appears in 373 of the 4.6 million products in Forkin's catalogue — most often in bacon, ham and turkey breast.
- Bacon120
- Ham74
- Turkey Breast56
- Pork (General)36
- Chicken Breast9
- Sausages7
- Mortadella7
- Pizza6
Often appears alongside
Additives most frequently found in the same ingredient lists as E243 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 E243
- What is E243?
- E243 is the E-number for Ethyl lauroyl arginate, a preservative — used to extend shelf life by slowing spoilage from microbes. Ethyl lauroyl arginate (E243) is a preservative used as a food additive.
- What is E243 used for?
- Ethyl lauroyl arginate (E243) is a preservative — used to extend shelf life by slowing spoilage from microbes. 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 E243?
- E243 appears in 373 of the 4.6 million products in Forkin's catalogue — most often in bacon, ham and turkey breast. Scan any barcode with the Forkin app to see instantly whether a specific product contains it.
- Is E243 vegan or vegetarian?
- Ethyl lauroyl arginate (E243) 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 E243 safe, and is it banned anywhere?
- E243 is approved for use in the EU. It sits among the additives EFSA keeps under ongoing review as new evidence is published. Forkin classifies it as "Under monitoring" 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 E243 — acceptable daily intake (ADI), restrictions by country, vegan/vegetarian status, alternative names, and which products in your scan history contain it. See how Forkin compares to other scanners or view pricing.