E420 / Thickeners, stabilisers & emulsifiers
Sorbitol, sorbitol syrup
Safety in brief
Safe in moderation
Recorded EatMatrix rating, not a new clinical review. The amount, your sensitivities and country rules still matter.
- Watch for
- No allergen or sensitivity is recorded for this ingredient here. Check the whole product label; this is not an allergen-free guarantee.
- Our advice
- Read the whole food label and consider how often you eat the product. A name or E number does not tell you the amount, and an ingredient rating cannot assess the entire food.
What it is
Sorbitol is a sugar alcohol used as a lower-calorie sweetener and moisture-retaining ingredient (humectant) in sugar-free gum, candy, baked goods, and some cosmetics. It is about 50-60% as sweet as table sugar and has a smaller effect on blood sugar, which is why it's often used in products marketed to people managing diabetes. Eating more than about 10-20 grams at once can cause bloating, gas, or a laxative effect in many people, and products containing more than 10% sorbitol must carry a laxative-effect warning in the EU.
Also appears on labels as: Sorbitol, Sorbitol syrup, D-sorbitol, E420, E 420, E-420, Sorbitol liquid, Sorbitol solution, Food grade sorbitol, Sugar alcohol sorbitol, Sorbitol sweetener, Sorbitol polyol.
Dietary information
- Vegan
- Yes
- Halal
- Yes
- Gluten-free
- Yes
- Allergens
- None recorded
Recorded ingredient information. Check the product label or certification: sources, other ingredients and cross-contact can vary.
Research & body effects
Health notes from our ingredient record
- Can cause bloating, gas, and a laxative effect, especially in single servings above roughly 10-20 g; EU-labeled foods above 10% sorbitol must warn of this.
- People with hereditary fructose intolerance should avoid sorbitol, as the body can convert it to fructose.
Country rules
Country checks for E420
Permission depends on the market, type of food, amount and conditions. A scientific opinion or an E-number alone does not establish a legal use. These checks are separate from the stored EatMatrix rating.
Compare all eight markets and their sources
| Market | What is checked |
|---|---|
| European Union | Regulation (EC) 1333/2008, Annex II Part B, version , contains the exact code E420: Sorbitols. Listing alone does not allow every food use. Part E food categories, limits, specifications and applicable later acts still need a product-specific check. Source read: . |
| Great Britain | The FSA register record for E420 (Sorbitols) lists “Authorised” in England, Scotland and Wales. Register updated: 01 April 2025; record checked: . Food-specific conditions and specifications still need a separate legal check. |
| United States | Selected US conditions for Sorbitol Official federal text current through ; read . Food uses, limits and exceptionsNamed preparation and use conditions For the specified sorbitol, current good manufacturing practice levels are 99% in hard candy/cough drops, 75% in chewing gum, 98% in soft candy, 30% in nonstandardised commercial jams/jellies and baked goods/mixes, 17% in frozen dairy desserts/mixes and 12% in other foods. Food whose reasonably foreseeable consumption may deliver 50 g/day must bear the laxative-effect warning. This is a labelling trigger, not a personal safe intake or a guarantee of tolerance below it; a syrup must match the relevant composition. EatMatrix’s reading: a legal use condition answers where and how an ingredient may be used. It is not a test of your product, a personal safe intake or a claim that the ingredient benefits your body. Match the named substance, food and amount. Other federal provisions, food standards, state rules and later changes may also apply; this is a selected source review, not a complete product-compliance decision. |
| Northern Ireland | Review pending. Check the applicable EU rules and territory arrangements; the GB register alone does not establish this status. FSA guidance is a starting source, not a verified permission for this entry. |
| Canada | Named food-use records located. Health Canada lists the preparations below for specified foods and purposes. This is conditional permission for those uses, not approval of every product or a personal safety verdict. Only the named records and conditions below were located. Exact composition and specifications still need matching. Source tables captured . List publication dates are shown separately. Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) is a condition of use, not an unlimited amount or a recommended intake. Food and Drug Regulations B.16.003 requires the listed source, purpose, amount and other conditions to match. The official consolidation read was current to 21 September 2026; product specifications and applicable later changes still need checking. Read 3 listed food-use conditionsSorbitolHealth Canada: List of Permitted Sweeteners. List published ; item S.3.
Sorbitol SyrupHealth Canada: List of Permitted Sweeteners. List published ; item S.4.
EatMatrix reading: match the exact preparation and food first. A manufacturing limit is not an acceptable daily intake (ADI). A label without the amount cannot establish exposure, and an unlisted name here does not establish a ban. |
| Australia | Review pending. Food Standards Code permissions and conditions need an additive-specific check. FSANZ food-additive rules is a starting source, not a verified permission for this entry. |
| New Zealand | Review pending. Food Standards Code permissions and conditions need an additive-specific check. FSANZ food-additive rules is a starting source, not a verified permission for this entry. |
| Japan | Review pending. The relevant list, identity and use standards need an additive-specific check. CAA food-additive lists is a starting source, not a verified permission for this entry. |
Sources & review status
Check what each source covers: an authority’s conclusion, a research finding and a country’s legal permission answer different questions.
What this guide covers
- Original ingredient record
- No research links in the original record. Sources added separately to this guide are not included in this count.
This guide brings together our ingredient record and the dated sources shown here. Missing information describes a gap in this guide; it does not mean an ingredient is untested, safe or harmful. This is not a complete review of every study, preparation or current country rule. The amount in a product and how it is used still matter.
How to read the ratings, research and country checksAgency labels recorded by EatMatrix
These are imported database classifications, not verified current statements from each authority. Use the dated official sources below for their actual scope and conclusions.
| Authority | Database label |
|---|---|
| FDA | Safe in moderation |
| WHO | Safe |
| EFSA | Safe in moderation |
| FSANZ | Safe |
| Japan | Safe |
| UK FSA | Safe in moderation |
Database updated: . What does an E number mean on a food label?
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
What is EatMatrix's recorded rating for E420?
The recorded EatMatrix rating for E420 (Sorbitol, sorbitol syrup) is “Safe in moderation”. It is calculated from labels stored in our ingredient database. These labels are not verified current regulator decisions or country permissions. A database update date is not a scientific review date.
Is E420 vegan, halal or gluten-free?
According to our ingredient data for Sorbitol, sorbitol syrup — vegan: yes, vegetarian: yes, halal: yes, kosher: yes, gluten-free: yes, dairy-free: yes. Manufacturing sources can vary between products; check the label if it matters to you.
What is E420 and why is it used?
Sorbitol is a sugar alcohol used as a lower-calorie sweetener and moisture-retaining ingredient (humectant) in sugar-free gum, candy, baked goods, and some cosmetics. It is about 50-60% as sweet as table sugar and has a smaller effect on blood sugar, which is why it's often used in products marketed to people managing diabetes. Eating more than about 10-20 grams at once can cause bloating, gas, or a laxative effect in many people, and products containing more than 10% sorbitol must carry a laxative-effect warning in the EU.
Does E420 contain allergens?
No known allergens are recorded for Sorbitol, sorbitol syrup.
Read the whole label.
Scan a food label with EatMatrix on iPhone to look up its ingredients in the app.
Ingredient research, by email
Join the list for food additive research updates. Unsubscribe any time.
This page shows information and classifications recorded in our ingredient database. Current scientific and market-specific verification remains pending as described above. It is general information, not medical advice.