Sorbitol

E number E420INS 420(i)CAS 50-70-4

Used as a sweetener — Codex also lists it as bulking agent, humectant, sequestrant, stabilizer, thickener.

Sorbitol is a sugar alcohol about half as sweet as sugar, used in sugar-free confectionery, chewing gum and baked goods. Like the other polyols it is incompletely absorbed, and foods containing much of it carry a laxative-effect declaration in many jurisdictions.

Where it is and isn’t permitted

Status of Sorbitol by jurisdiction. Every jurisdiction this site covers is listed, including those where the substance does not appear.
JurisdictionStatusScope and limitsCitation
United StatesFood and Drug AdministrationPermitted21 CFR 184.1835retrieved 2026-09-07
Codex AlimentariusCodex Alimentarius Commission / JECFAPermitted, with conditions

5 food categories

no numerical limit (good manufacturing practice)

Show every food category
  • 09.2.3 Frozen minced and creamed fish products, including molluscs, crustaceans, and echinoderms — GMP
  • 09.2.4 Cooked and/or fried fish and fish products, including molluscs, crustaceans, and echinoderms — GMP
  • 09.2.5 Smoked, dried, fermented, and/or salted fish and fish products, including molluscs, crustaceans, and echinoderms — GMP
  • 11.4 Other sugars and syrups (e.g. xylose, maple syrup, sugar toppings) — GMP
  • 12.2.2 Seasonings and condiments — GMP
CXS 192-1995 Table Three, INS 420(i)and 5 further provisionsretrieved 2026-09-07

What it is made from

Made by hydrogenating glucose, usually derived from maize or wheat starch. It also occurs naturally in rowan berries and some stone fruit. No animal material is involved.

  • Vegan
  • Vegetarian
CAS registry number
50-70-4
InChIKey
FBPFZTCFMRRESA-JGWLITMVSA-N
PubChem
CID 5780

Every name it appears under

64 recorded names. A label may use any of them.

E number

  • E420

INS number

  • 420(i)

CAS registry number

  • 50-70-4

As it appears in regulation

  • Sorbitol

Other names

  • (-)-Sorbitol
  • (2R,3R,4R,5S)-hexane-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexol
  • 1,2,3,4,5,6-Hexanehexol
  • Cholaxine
  • D-(-)-Sorbitol
  • D-glucitol
  • D-Sorbite
  • D-sorbitol
  • D-Sorbol
  • Diakarmon
  • E 420(i)
  • Esasorb
  • FEMA No. 3029
  • Foodol D 70
  • GeriCare Sorbitol Solution
  • Glucarine
  • glucitol
  • Glucitol, D-
  • Gulitol
  • Hexahydric alcohol
  • Ins no.420(i)
  • Ins-420(i)
  • Karion
  • Karion (carbohydrate)
  • Karion instant
  • L-Gulitol
  • Microlax Enema
  • Multitol
  • Neosorb
  • Neosorb 20/60DC
  • Neosorb 70/70
  • Neosorb P 20/60
  • Neosorb P 60
  • Neosorb P 60W
  • Nivitin
  • shediary turmeric face cream
  • Sionit
  • Sionit K
  • Sionite
  • Sionon
  • Siosan
  • Sorbex M
  • Sorbex R
  • Sorbex Rp
  • Sorbex S
  • Sorbex X
  • Sorbicolan
  • Sorbilande
  • Sorbit
  • Sorbitol
  • Sorbitol (e420)
  • Sorbitol 3% in plastic container
  • SORBITOL 3.3% IN PLASTIC CONTAINER
  • Sorbitol F
  • Sorbitol FP
  • Sorbo
  • Sorbol
  • Sorbostyl
  • Sorvilande

Systematic names

  • (2R,3R,4R,5S)-hexane-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexol

Hazard reference values

No reference value for this substance in the sources we hold.

Evidence and how bodies read it

Studies, and the differing conclusions regulators drew from them, are curated by hand rather than machine-read, and none has been written for this substance yet.

Sources for this page

  • ecfr retrieved 2026-09-07
  • gsfa retrieved 2026-09-07

Full licence terms and publisher details on Sources. How this page is built and updated: Method.

Machine-readable:/api/v1/additives/sorbitol.json