INS 440 is the code for pectins
The gelling agent in jam, extracted from citrus peel and apple pomace.
- What it does
- Sets it to a gel A gelling agent
- Also printed as
- Amidated pectin
- Vegetarian?
- Vegetarian From plants
- In the Zabel score
- Takes no points off Method 1.0.0
- In our catalogue
- 150 packs List it in their ingredients
Is INS 440 vegetarian?
INS 440 is from plants, so it does not by itself make a food non-vegetarian. The green or brown mark on the pack is still the declaration to go by, because it covers every other ingredient too.
| Food category | Share | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Spreads and jams | 18% | |
| Fruit juices and nectars | 14% | |
| Biscuits and cookies | 13% | |
| Milk and dairy drinks | 11% | |
| Yoghurt and curd | 10% | |
| Everything else | 33% |
Counted from the 150 packs in Zabel's catalogue that list INS 440, 125 of which have a food category so far. Counted 4 Nov 2026.
What does the evidence say about INS 440?
We grade an additive by the evidence about it, not by whether it sounds like a chemical, and we make no claim about whether a pack complies with FSSAI rules.
No numerical limit and no identified concern at food levels. It is a soluble fibre.
Does Zabel mark INS 440 down?
No. On the evidence we hold it takes nothing off the score (method 1.0.0). Read the method.
Questions people search
What is INS 440?
INS 440 is the code for pectins, a gelling agent. The gelling agent in jam, extracted from citrus peel and apple pomace.
Is INS 440 vegetarian?
INS 440 is from plants, so it does not by itself make a food non-vegetarian. The green or brown mark on the pack is still the declaration to go by, because it covers every other ingredient too.
What does the evidence say about INS 440?
No numerical limit and no identified concern at food levels. It is a soluble fibre.
Does Zabel mark INS 440 down?
No. On the evidence we hold it takes nothing off the score (method 1.0.0).
What other names is INS 440 printed under?
Packs also print it as Amidated pectin, or as the bare number 440 in brackets after the ingredient.
Sources
- 01 Evaluations of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) WHO / FAO, 2024
- 02 Zabel catalogue - pack counts, food categories and the codes printed alongside 4 Nov 2026
Entry updated 19 Sep 2026 · Not reviewed by a dietitian yet · Report an error on this page
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