Sorbitol
Function: Sweeteners
E420 is the European food-additive number for Sorbitol, a sweetener — used to add a sweet taste with little or no sugar. Sorbitol (E420) is a humectant used as a food additive.
What is E420 used for?
Sorbitol (E420) is a sweetener — used to add a sweet taste with little or no sugar. It is added during food production for a technological purpose rather than for nutrition. See all Sweeteners (E-numbers).
Is E420 safe or restricted?
E420 is an approved food additive in the EU and currently carries no special regulatory restrictions in the EU additive register. Forkin classifies it as “No known concern” and does not make health claims. See the methodology for how regulatory levels are assigned, or the guide to how EU additives are approved, re-evaluated and banned.
Is E420 vegan or vegetarian?
Sorbitol (E420) is typically produced from plant, mineral, or synthetic sources, so it is generally suitable for vegans and vegetarians.
The production source can vary between manufacturers — the Forkin app shows the verified vegan and vegetarian status per product. Always read the label for allergens.
Which foods contain E420?
E420 appears in 3,650 of the 4.7 million products in Forkin's catalogue — most often in Cakes, Granola Bars, and Candy & Sweets.
- Cakes541
- Granola Bars251
- Candy & Sweets205
- Chewing Gum187
- Pastry169
- Chocolate Candy136
- Sweet Pastries98
- Bread87
Often appears alongside
Additives most frequently found in the same ingredient lists as E420 across the catalogue.
Counts reflect Forkin's independently enriched product catalogue and update as new products are added — they are not a market-share statistic.
Frequently asked questions about E420
- What is E420?
- E420 is the E-number for Sorbitol, a sweetener — used to add a sweet taste with little or no sugar. Sorbitol (E420) is a humectant used as a food additive.
- What is E420 used for?
- Sorbitol (E420) is a sweetener — used to add a sweet taste with little or no sugar. Manufacturers add it during processing rather than for nutrition. The Forkin app shows which products in your scan history actually contain it.
- Which foods contain E420?
- E420 appears in 3,650 of the 4.7 million products in Forkin's catalogue — most often in Cakes, Granola Bars, and Candy & Sweets. Scan any barcode with the Forkin app to see instantly whether a specific product contains it.
- Is E420 vegan or vegetarian?
- Sorbitol (E420) is typically produced from plant, mineral, or synthetic sources, so it is generally suitable for vegans and vegetarians. The Forkin app shows the verified vegan and vegetarian status per product, since the source can vary between manufacturers.
- Is E420 safe, and is it banned anywhere?
- E420 is an approved food additive in the EU and currently carries no special regulatory restrictions in the EU additive register. Forkin classifies it as ‘No known concern’ and does not make health claims — see the methodology page for how regulatory levels are assigned, and the Forkin app for the full profile, including acceptable daily intake (ADI) and restrictions by country.
See the full profile in Forkin
The Forkin app surfaces the full regulatory profile of E420 — acceptable daily intake (ADI), restrictions by country, vegan and vegetarian status, alternative names, and which products in your scan history contain it. See view pricing.