Ingredients and Allergens
Products containing Zein (maize protein)
Following correspondence from two of our suppliers regarding products containing Zein (Maize Protein) and its suitability for use as an additive or food ingredient, we have decided to provide the following update for our customers.
As a result of in depth discussions with both Trading Standards and the Food Standards Agency our suppliers have been advised that ‘Zein maize protein’ falls under the definition of a food additive, but is not currently authorised in the UK. Therefore, in order for our suppliers to resuming supplying confectionery products using Zein maize protein, there would need to be an application submitted to establish a new food additive directly with the FSA, requiring assessment and approval.
The Food Standards Agency accept that the use of Zein is not a "food safety issue but a technical non compliance issue”. They state that a "risk based approach” is necessary and that a full withdrawal from the market & recall is not required.
Following discussions and advice from our suppliers, Food Safety Consultants and Trading Standards, we have made the decision to continue to sell existing stocks of products containing Zein. We will not be purchasing any further stock of products containing Zein, but expect that clarification from the FSA regarding the future of Zein will be available shortly.
Please note, this affects only a very small number of our products and the affected products have been highlighted on the website.
Zein was introduced as an alternative to Shellac, after the Vegetarian Society declared Shellac was no longer considered vegetarian. Our suppliers are already looking into an alternative to Zein, to ensure the interruption to the supply of products is kept to a minimum.
We will provide an update as soon as we have further information.
Should you have any questions relating to this, please contact the Compliance Team – compliance@truly.uk.net.
For a copy of the official statement, you can download this at the bottom of this page.
Allergens
We handle a variety of allergens on-site so we are not a 'Free From' site.
Our manufacturers also handle a variety of allergens on their sites, so whilst we will always highlight where an allergen is included in the ingredients (bold type) there may also have been exposure to other allergens during manufacture (classed as 'may contain').
Below is a list of the 'may contain' allergens:
Gluten
Nuts
Soya
Milk
Fish
Eggs
Peanuts
Lupin
Mustard
Sulphites
If this is a concern please contact us with your specific query, or for individual product 'may contain' information - compliance@truly.uk.net.
Ingredients
We often get asked what some of the ingredients are in our products. Here is a list of some of the more commonly occurring ingredients. We do list the ingredients on each product page, but we do ask that you check the individual specifications on each page to be certain of the ingredients included.
| Ingredient | What it is |
| E100 | Natural colour isolated from the roots and stem of Yellowroot (Curcuma longa and Curcuma domestica). Turmeric is the crude extract, whereas curcumin is the purified compound. It imparts the yellow colour to curry powder. It is a natural food colouring and can be consumed by all religious groups, vegans and vegetarians |
| E120 | Natural red food colour isolated from the insects Dactylopius coccus, living on different species of succulents. As it is extracted from insects, E120 cannot be consumed by vegans and vegetarians and neither by some religious groups |
| E131 | Also referred to as Paten Blue V. A synthetic blue colour. E131 can be consumed by all religious groups, vegans and vegetarians. |
| E133 | Also referred to as Brilliant Blue. A synthetic blue colour. E131 can be consumed by all religious groups, vegans and vegetarians |
| E141 | A natural green colour, which is present in all plants and algae. E141 is commercially extracted from nettles, grass and alfalfa. Due to chemical de-esterification of chlorophyll, phaeophytins are formed. |
| E153 | Also referred to a Carbon Black. Natural element, produced by burning vegetable matter. E153 can be consumed by all religious groups, vegans and vegetarians |
| E163 | Anthocyanins and anthocyanidins are a large group of natural colours. The colour of most fruits, flowers and berries is made up from a combination of anthocyanins and anthocyanidins. Anthocyanins always contain a carbohydrate molecule, whereas anthocyanidins lack this molecule. The individual compounds are isolated from different plant species. E163(i)-(iii) are mixtures |
| E171 | Titanium Dioxide is a natural white mineral. White colour for surface coating, used to separate layers in products; whitening agent in toothpaste |
| E172 | Iron Oxides are natural minerals, but commercially made from iron powder. |
| E174 | Natural Silver used for coating |
| E464 | Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose is prepared from cellulose, the main polysaccharide and constituent of wood and all plant structures. It is used mainly as a thickening agent and emulsifier |
| E460(i) | Cellulose is the main polysaccharide and constituent of wood and all plant structures. Commercially prepared from wood. It has many different uses, mainly as thickening agent, but also as filler, dietary fibre, anti clumping agent and emulsfier. |
| E470b | Magnesium salts of fatty acids. Often used as a stabiliser or emulsifier. Although mainly vegetable oils are used, the use of animal fat (incl. pork) can not be excluded. Several groups, such as vegans, Muslims and Jews thus avoid these products |
| E472 | Esters of synthetic fats, produced from glycerol, natural fatty acids and another organic acid (acetic, lactic, tartaric, citric). The fatty acids are mainly from plant origin, but also fats of animal origin may be used. The product generally is a mixture of different components, with a composition similar to partially digested natural fat esterified with other natural acids. It is used as an emulsifier and stabiliser. |
Beeswax E901 | Sometimes listed on ingredients as E901. It is a natural polymer produces by bees. It is often used as a coating or glazing agent. E901 can be used by all religious groups, vegetarians, as it does not contain animals. The wax is an exudate of the bees and so it is often not acceptable for Vegans. |
Shellac E904 | Sometimes listed on ingredients as E904. Natural polymer derived from the excretion of the Lac beetle. It is often used as a coating or glazing agent. E904 can be used by all religious groups and vegetarians (though some still prefer to avoid products containing it). Vegans generally avoid the product. These are eliminated during purification. |
Information Sources
