E640 — Glycine and its sodium salt

Needs verification

E640 (Glycine and its sodium salt) needs verification. An amino acid used as a flavour modifier.

Why it needs verification

It can be produced synthetically or from animal material.

Where you meet it

Seasonings, some processed meat.

What to do in the shop

Look for a product that names the source, says plant-based or vegan, or carries a halal certificate. If nothing on the packet settles it, the manufacturer can tell you, and their answer is the only thing that turns E640 from a question into an answer.

A status here describes the additive in general — a specific product can be different. The same number can be made from plant or animal material depending on the manufacturer, and the label does not say which.

Questions people ask

Is E640 halal?

E640 (Glycine and its sodium salt) needs verification. It can be produced synthetically or from animal material.

How do I know if the E640 in a product is halal?

Only the manufacturer can tell you which source they used, unless the packet says plant-based, vegan, or carries a halal certificate.

Related additives

E635 — Disodium ribonucleotides · Needs verification
E631 — Disodium inosinate · Needs verification
E627 — Disodium guanylate · Needs verification

See all E-numbers →

Check a product, not just a number

An additive's status describes the additive in general. What matters is the whole ingredient list on the packet in your hand.

This is information, not a fatwa. These statuses combine published scholarly positions with ingredient analysis, and they can be incomplete or out of date. For anything that matters, confirm with the manufacturer and with a qualified authority.