The starch, usually corn, is broken down to glucose and fermented by yeast into erythritol, so it is vegan. It is often paired with stevia or monk fruit in tabletop sweeteners, and unlike lactitol, another sugar alcohol, it carries no dairy origin.
Sorbitol (E420)Sorbitol is a sweetener and moisture-keeper made from plant glucose. It is the reason sugar-free gum stays soft, and it is plant-based.
Xylitol (E967)Xylitol is the tooth-friendly sweetener made from birch or corn. It is plant-based, though a quick warning: it is dangerous to dogs.
Stevia (steviol glycosides, E960)Stevia is sweetness from a leaf, hundreds of times stronger than sugar. It is a plant extract, no animal step required.
Frequently asked
Is E968 vegan?
Yes. E968 is erythritol, made by fermenting plant sugar, so it is vegan.
Is erythritol the same as lactitol?
No. Both are sugar alcohols, but erythritol is fermented from plant sugar and is vegan, while lactitol is made from milk-derived lactose and is not.
The same clear-eyed sourcing behind these verdicts, applied to each day’s news: what actually moved veganism forward, quoted and checked before you read it. One short brief, free.