Hidden sources of egg: the label names to know

Updated 2026-07-21

Egg is one of the most common food allergens, and the egg protein is what matters, not whether the word "egg" is on the front of the pack. Egg is declared on US, EU and UK labels, but it appears under several scientific names and in products you might not expect. Here are the names to watch for, with sources.

This is general information, not medical advice. Always read the full label and follow your allergist's plan. Some egg-allergic children tolerate baked egg, that is a decision for your allergist, not a label.

Egg on an ingredient list

Beyond "egg", "egg white" and "egg yolk", egg is declared under names like:

• Albumin (also spelled albumen), ovalbumin, ovomucoid, ovomucin, ovovitellin, vitellin, apovitellin
• Globulin, avidin, livetin
• Lysozyme (a preservative made from egg white, sometimes shown as E1105)
• Meringue and meringue powder, mayonnaise, eggnog
• Surimi (imitation seafood, often bound with egg)
• Egg in all forms, dried, powdered, solids

Where egg turns up unexpectedly

Egg is used as a binder, thickener, glaze and foam, so it appears far beyond obvious egg dishes. The Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) guidance flags egg in:

• Canned soups, salad dressings and sauces
• Meatballs, meatloaf and other meat dishes (egg as a binder)
• Ice cream, custard, mousse, buttercream, frosting and cake fillings
• Pancakes, waffles and other breakfast foods
• Breads and baked goods brushed with an egg wash for shine
• Some coffee drinks and wines (egg can be used to clarify or foam)
• Even some "egg substitutes", which can still contain egg protein, so read them too

A note on lysozyme

Lysozyme is egg-white protein used as a preservative, notably in some hard cheeses and wines. It is genuinely egg-derived, so a product listing lysozyme (or E1105) is not safe for an egg allergy.

How AllergyLens helps

AllergyLens reads the whole ingredient list against an egg-allergy profile using the derived names above, so an "albumin" or "lysozyme" is flagged even when the word "egg" is not obvious. It cannot see what a label leaves out, so it is a second pair of eyes, not a replacement for reading the label and following your allergist.