E920: L-Cysteine
Main role: dough conditioning
Also listed as: cysteine, L-cysteine hydrochloride
What is E920 (L-Cysteine)?
L-cysteine is an amino acid used to alter dough properties during processing. It can help a bakery recipe manage dough handling rather than acting as a raising agent itself.
What does it do in food?
Its main role is dough conditioning. Flour-treatment ingredients affect dough during preparation. Their processing role differs from supplying yeast or generating gas with a raising agent. The intended recipe determines the appropriate treatment.
Food and formulation examples
- Bread dough
- Bakery dough improvers
- Flour-treatment preparations
These examples describe formulation roles, not a list of unrestricted legal uses. Availability and permitted applications differ by country and food category.
Label names and ingredient questions
Look for E920, E 920, or the ingredient name. Related names and label terms include cysteine, L-cysteine hydrochloride. A family code can cover more than one specified form; check the full declaration when the distinction matters.
Manufacturing sources can differ, including fermentation routes. The E number alone does not establish vegan or religious-diet suitability; obtain sourcing information when it matters.
Is E920 safe?
There is no meaningful personal risk estimate from an E number alone. Food-grade specifications, allowed uses, amount consumed, and individual circumstances all matter. The authorization record below gives the legal scope; it is not a claim that every possible use is appropriate.
A label identifies the ingredient but usually not its concentration. Calculating daily intake requires the amount in the food and the quantities eaten.
Authorization and conditions of use
The Great Britain food additive register lists E920 as L-cysteine. This is an entry subject to its stated conditions, not unrestricted permission for every food. The record links to the applicable authorization terms. For an EU product, use the European Commission food additive database to check the relevant food category and limits. Other countries may use different names or rules.