E270 - Lactic acid
By the Daat team · Updated October 30, 2026
E270, lactic acid, is a sour acid made by fermentation. Despite the name, it is not dairy and has no lactose.
The name confuses a lot of people with lactose sensitivity. It is called that because it was first found in sour milk, but today it is made by fermenting sugar from corn or beet.
You will find it in salads, dressings, sour sweets and pickled foods. Daat’s scanner does not flag it as lactose.
In Daat’s catalog we found E270 in 652 of 16,831 products (3.9%), mostly in sauces, spreads and salads and cakes, biscuits and pastries.
E270 at a glance
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Lactic acid |
| Also listed as | L-lactic acid |
| Function | Acid / acidity regulator |
| Origin | Plant, mineral or synthetic |
| Vegan / vegetarian | Yes / Yes |
Is E270 vegan?
Yes. E270 has no animal source, so it suits both vegans and vegetarians.