Sorbitol (E420)

Sorbitol is the sweetener the food industry lists as E420. In our table it is moderate risk: it takes 15 points off the additive subscore, a third of a product's score (about 5 of the 100).

What Sorbitol does to a score

A packaged food's additive subscore starts at 100 and loses points for each additive on the label; that subscore is a third of the final score. Sorbitol takes 15 points off the additive subscore, a third of a product's score (about 5 of the 100). Scan the pack in Sito and the score you get is the one for your own child's age, with this additive named in the reasons. How we score has the whole method.

What the sources found

Every classification in our table comes from the citations below, and nothing else. Each finding is our one-line summary of what the source concluded, with the source and reference beside it.

• EFSA Call for data on genotoxicity data on sorbitol (E 420 i), published 2023-06-26, deadline 2024-01-03 (efsa.europa.eu/en/call/call-data-genotoxicity-data-sorbitol-e-420-i)
  EFSA identified a genotoxicity data gap for sorbitol — the lack of a fully reliable in vitro micronucleus test to current OECD guidance — and requested new data to complete the safety assessment; the re-evaluation opinion has not been published.
• FDA 21 CFR 184.1835 (govinfo CFR-2024-title21-vol3-sec184-1835)
  Sorbitol is affirmed GRAS in the US with use limits by food category (e.g. 99% hard candy, 12% other foods) and a mandatory label statement 'Excess consumption may have a laxative effect' where foreseeable daily intake exceeds 50 g.
• EFSA Europe PMC query of EFSA Journal for re-evaluation opinions on E 420/421/953/965/967 (executed 2026-08-10)
  No EFSA re-evaluation opinion exists for sorbitol as of this date — erythritol (E 968) is the only polyol whose re-evaluation is complete; sorbitol's EU status still rests on the pre-2009 SCF acceptance with no numerical ADI.

Why this class

IARC Group 2B; or an EFSA re-evaluation that flagged genotoxicity data gaps, found safety could not be assessed on the available data, or cut the ADI citing child exposure; or an EU harmonised classification of the substance as a reproductive or developmental hazard; or an EU withdrawal of one authorised food use while others remain; or an OEHHA/Proposition 65 listing; or membership of the Southampton-six colourants.

Our confidence in this row's classification is medium. Medium or low does not mean the evidence is weak; it means something about the row is still being pinned down, usually a regulatory status confirmed from one source rather than two.

Questions parents ask

Is Sorbitol (E420) safe for kids?

Moderate risk. In Sito it takes 15 points off the additive subscore, a third of a product's score (about 5 of the 100). The finding we rely on: EFSA identified a genotoxicity data gap for sorbitol, the lack of a fully reliable in vitro micronucleus test to current OECD guidance, and requested new data to complete the safety assessment; the re-evaluation opinion has not been published (EFSA Call for data on genotoxicity data on sorbitol (E 420 i), published 2023-06-26, deadline 2024-01-03 (efsa.europa.eu/en/call/call-data-genotoxicity-data-sorbitol-e-420-i)).

What is E420?

E420 is the E number for Sorbitol, a sweetener. Open Food Facts tags it en:e420.

Next to it on the label

The E numbers either side of E420 in our table, then the closest sweeteners by number.

• Gellan gum (E418), no risk identified
• Mannitol (E421), no risk identified
• Acesulfame K (E950), no risk identified
• Aspartame (E951), moderate risk
• Cyclamic acid and its Na and Ca salts (E952), high risk
• Isomalt (E953), moderate risk