category: food additives: sugar substitutes

Sorbitol, Glucitol, E 420

Sorbitol is a sugar substitute. In nature it occurs in some fruits, such as plums and rowanberries. In the European Union sorbitol is used as a food additive and known under the E number E 420. Glucitol is a synonym for sorbitol.

Production of sorbitol

Sorbitol for the food industry is produced by reduction of glucose with the help of enzymes.

Use of sorbitol

Sorbitol is used for the production of sugar-free or sugar-reduced foods like sweets, foods for diabetics, baked goods and surimi.

The human digestive systems treats sorbitol like fructose. People with a fructose-intolerance should not consume sorbitol.