Xylitol

INS 967

Used as a sweetener — Codex also lists it as emulsifier, humectant, stabilizer, thickener.

Xylitol is a sugar alcohol about as sweet as sugar, used in sugar-free chewing gum, confectionery and oral-care products. It produces a distinct cooling sensation as it dissolves.

Where it is and isn’t permitted

Status of Xylitol by jurisdiction. Every jurisdiction this site covers is listed, including those where the substance does not appear.
JurisdictionStatusScope and limitsCitation
United StatesFood and Drug AdministrationPermitted, with conditions21 CFR 172.395retrieved 2026-09-07
Codex AlimentariusCodex Alimentarius Commission / JECFAPermitted, with conditions

2 food categories

no numerical limit (good manufacturing practice)

Show every food category
  • 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 967and 2 further provisionsretrieved 2026-09-07

What it is made from

Made by hydrogenating xylose, obtained from plant material rich in xylan such as birch wood or corn cobs. It is worth noting that xylitol is seriously toxic to dogs, which is a household hazard rather than a food-regulation matter.

  • Vegan
  • Vegetarian
InChIKey
HEBKCHPVOIAQTA-NGQZWQHPSA-N
PubChem
CID 6912

Every name it appears under

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

E number

  • E967

INS number

  • 967

CAS registry number

  • 16277-71-7
  • 488-81-3
  • 87-99-0

As it appears in regulation

  • Xylitol

Other names

  • (2R,3R,4S)-Pentane-1,2,3,4,5-pentaol
  • (2R,3r,4S)-pentane-1,2,3,4,5-pentol
  • (2R,3S,4S)-Pentane-1,2,3,4,5-pentaol
  • (2R,3s,4S)-pentane-1,2,3,4,5-pentol
  • (2R,4S)-pentane-1,2,3,4,5-pentaol
  • (2S,4R)-pentane-1,2,3,4,5-pentol
  • 1,2,3,4,5-pentanepentol
  • 2,3-DihydroAcrivastine
  • 353ZQ9TVDA
  • 4-01-00-02832 (Beilstein Handbook Reference)
  • Adonit
  • Adonite
  • Adonito
  • adonitol
  • Adonitol;Adonite
  • BBP-418
  • BRN 1720523
  • C-xylidex cr 16055
  • D-Adonitol
  • D-ribitol
  • D-Xylitol
  • DL-Arabinit
  • Eutrit
  • Fluorette
  • HSDB 7967
  • INS NO.967
  • INS-967
  • Kannit
  • Klinit
  • Kylit
  • L-ribitol
  • L-xylitol
  • meso-Pentitol
  • meso-ribitol
  • meso-xylitol
  • Newtol
  • ribitol
  • Ribitol (USAN)
  • RIBO-PENTITOL
  • VCQ006KQ1E
  • Wood sugar alcohol
  • Xylisorb
  • Xylit
  • Xylitab 300
  • Xylitab DC
  • Xylite
  • Xylite (sugar)
  • xylitol
  • Xylitol (Standard)
  • Xylitol C
  • Xylitol cm 90
  • Xylitol CRS
  • Xylitol, d-
  • Xyliton
  • xylo-Pentane-1,2,3,4,5-pentol
  • xylo-Pentitol

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/xylitol.json