Because lactitol is manufactured from lactose, which is extracted from milk or whey, it is not vegan. If you want a sugar alcohol without the dairy origin, erythritol, xylitol, sorbitol and maltitol are all made from plant sources.
LactoseLactose is milk sugar. Even though it is a carbohydrate rather than a protein, it comes from milk, so it is not vegan.
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.
Erythritol (E968)Erythritol is a sweetener grown by yeast on plant sugar. Unlike its milk-derived cousin lactitol, its name hides nothing.
Frequently asked
Is lactitol dairy?
It is made from lactose, the sugar in milk, so it originates from dairy and is not vegan. The finished sweetener contains little to no milk protein, but its source is animal.
Which sugar alcohols are vegan?
Erythritol, xylitol, sorbitol and maltitol are typically made from plant sources such as corn or birch, so they are generally vegan. Lactitol is the milk-derived exception.
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.
