Polysorbate 80
Function: Emulsifier
E433 is the European food-additive number for Polysorbate 80, an emulsifier — helps ingredients that normally separate, like oil and water, stay mixed. Polysorbate 80 (E433) is an emulsifier used as a food additive.
What is E433 used for?
Polysorbate 80 (E433) is an emulsifier — helps ingredients that normally separate, like oil and water, stay mixed. It is added during food production for a technological purpose rather than for nutrition. See all emulsifiers (E-numbers).
Is E433 safe or restricted?
E433 is approved for use in the EU but has drawn regulatory attention — its conditions of use or acceptable daily intake have been re-examined by EFSA or equivalent bodies. Forkin classifies it as “Regulatory attention” 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 E433 vegan or vegetarian?
Polysorbate 80 (E433) can be produced from plant, mineral, or animal-derived raw materials, and the ingredient list rarely states which source was used — so its vegan status genuinely depends on the specific product.
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 E433?
E433 appears in 729 of the 4.6 million products in Forkin's catalogue — most often in ice cream, cakes and pastry.
- Ice Cream96
- Cakes53
- Pastry49
- Cake Mixes31
- Instant Coffee15
- Food Coloring / Decorations13
- Heavy Cream12
- Mousse10
Often appears alongside
Additives most frequently found in the same ingredient lists as E433 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 E433
- What is E433?
- E433 is the E-number for Polysorbate 80, an emulsifier — helps ingredients that normally separate, like oil and water, stay mixed. Polysorbate 80 (E433) is an emulsifier used as a food additive.
- What is E433 used for?
- Polysorbate 80 (E433) is an emulsifier — helps ingredients that normally separate, like oil and water, stay mixed. 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 E433?
- E433 appears in 729 of the 4.6 million products in Forkin's catalogue — most often in ice cream, cakes and pastry. Scan any barcode with the Forkin app to see instantly whether a specific product contains it.
- Is E433 vegan or vegetarian?
- Polysorbate 80 (E433) can be produced from plant, mineral, or animal-derived raw materials, and the ingredient list rarely states which source was used — so its vegan status genuinely depends on the specific product. The Forkin app shows the verified vegan and vegetarian status per product, since the source can vary between manufacturers.
- Is E433 safe, and is it banned anywhere?
- E433 is approved for use in the EU but has drawn regulatory attention — its conditions of use or acceptable daily intake have been re-examined by EFSA or equivalent bodies. Forkin classifies it as "Regulatory attention" 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 E433 — acceptable daily intake (ADI), restrictions by country, vegan/vegetarian status, alternative names, and which products in your scan history contain it. See how Forkin compares to other scanners or view pricing.