Nisin
Function: Preservative
E234 is the European food-additive number for Nisin, a preservative — used to extend shelf life by slowing spoilage from microbes. Nisin (E234) is a preservative used as a food additive.
What is E234 used for?
Nisin (E234) 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 E234 safe or restricted?
E234 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, or the guide to how EU additives are approved, re-evaluated and banned.
Is E234 vegan or vegetarian?
Nisin (E234) 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.
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 E234?
E234 appears in 57 of the 4.7 million products in Forkin's catalogue — most often in coconut water, cream cheese and pizza.
- Coconut Water4
- Cream Cheese3
- Pizza3
- Hummus3
- Hard Cheese2
- Shortbread2
- Sausages2
- Cheddar2
Often appears alongside
Additives most frequently found in the same ingredient lists as E234 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 E234
- What is E234?
- E234 is the E-number for Nisin, a preservative — used to extend shelf life by slowing spoilage from microbes. Nisin (E234) is a preservative used as a food additive.
- What is E234 used for?
- Nisin (E234) 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 E234?
- E234 appears in 57 of the 4.7 million products in Forkin's catalogue — most often in coconut water, cream cheese and pizza. Scan any barcode with the Forkin app to see instantly whether a specific product contains it.
- Is E234 vegan or vegetarian?
- Nisin (E234) 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. The Forkin app shows the verified vegan and vegetarian status per product, since the source can vary between manufacturers.
- Is E234 safe, and is it banned anywhere?
- E234 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 E234 — acceptable daily intake (ADI), restrictions by country, vegan/vegetarian status, alternative names, and which products in your scan history contain it. See view pricing.