E965 / Glazing agents, gases & sweeteners
Maltitol, maltitol 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
- Recorded sensitivities: May cause digestive upset (bloating, gas, laxative effect) in sensitive individuals or with high intake..
- 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
Maltitol is a sugar alcohol used as a sugar substitute in sugar-free candies, chocolate, and baked goods. It is about 75-90% as sweet as sucrose, provides fewer calories than sugar, and has a smaller effect on blood glucose, though it is not calorie- or carb-free and can still affect blood sugar somewhat in larger amounts. Maltitol syrup is the liquid form used in manufacturing. Because it is poorly absorbed in the gut, eating large amounts can cause bloating, gas, or a laxative effect.
Also appears on labels as: Maltitol, Maltitol syrup, Hydrogenated maltose, E965, E 965, E-965, Maltitol liquid, Sugar alcohol maltitol, Maltitol solution, Food grade maltitol, Maltitol sweetener, Maltitol polyol.
Dietary information
- Vegan
- Yes
- Halal
- Yes
- Gluten-free
- Yes
- Allergens
- Caution
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 when consumed in larger amounts, more so than most other sugar alcohols.
- Still raises blood glucose somewhat, so people with diabetes should account for it despite 'sugar-free' labeling.
- Not calorie-free — contains about half the calories of sugar per gram.
Country rules
Country checks for E965
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 E965: Maltitols. 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 E965 (Maltitols) 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 | Complete current-use review pending. Any scoped provision in the label guide above applies only to the stated use. FDA explains the applicable food-additive and GRAS framework. |
| 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 2 listed food-use conditionsMaltitolHealth Canada: List of Permitted Sweeteners. List published ; item M.1.
Maltitol syrupHealth Canada: List of Permitted Sweeteners. List published ; item M.2.
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 |
| WHO | Safe |
| EFSA | Safe in moderation |
| FSANZ | 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 E965?
The recorded EatMatrix rating for E965 (Maltitol, maltitol 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 E965 vegan, halal or gluten-free?
According to our ingredient data for Maltitol, maltitol 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 E965 and why is it used?
Maltitol is a sugar alcohol used as a sugar substitute in sugar-free candies, chocolate, and baked goods. It is about 75-90% as sweet as sucrose, provides fewer calories than sugar, and has a smaller effect on blood glucose, though it is not calorie- or carb-free and can still affect blood sugar somewhat in larger amounts. Maltitol syrup is the liquid form used in manufacturing. Because it is poorly absorbed in the gut, eating large amounts can cause bloating, gas, or a laxative effect.
Does E965 contain allergens?
No known allergens are recorded for Maltitol, maltitol syrup, with a caution: May cause digestive upset (bloating, gas, laxative effect) in sensitive individuals or with high intake..
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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.