Sorbitol syrup

INS 420(ii)

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

Sorbitol syrup is the liquid form of sorbitol, containing sorbitol together with other hydrogenated saccharides. It is used where a humectant syrup rather than a crystalline powder is wanted.

Where it is and isn’t permitted

Status of Sorbitol syrup by jurisdiction. Every jurisdiction this site covers is listed, including those where the substance does not appear.
JurisdictionStatusScope and limitsCitation
United StatesFood and Drug AdministrationNot listedDoes not appear on this jurisdiction’s permitted list. That is not the same as being prohibited.
Codex AlimentariusCodex Alimentarius Commission / JECFAPermitted, with conditions

6 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
  • 09.2.4.2 Cooked molluscs, crustaceans, and echinoderms — GMP
  • 09.2.5 Smoked, dried, fermented, and/or salted fish and fish products, including molluscs, crustaceans, and echinoderms — GMP
  • 10.2.2 Frozen egg products — 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(ii)and 6 further provisionsretrieved 2026-09-07

What it is made from

Produced by hydrogenating a glucose syrup rather than pure glucose, so the product retains longer-chain hydrogenated sugars alongside sorbitol. The feedstock is normally maize or wheat starch.

  • Vegan
  • Vegetarian

Every name it appears under

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

INS number

  • 420(ii)

Other names

  • SORBITOL SYRUP

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

  • 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-syrup.json