The glucose comes from plant starch, usually corn, and is chemically reduced to sorbitol, with no animal input, so it is vegan. It also forms the sorbitan backbone of emulsifiers like polysorbate 80, though those carry their own fatty-acid question.
Erythritol (E968)Erythritol is a sweetener grown by yeast on plant sugar. Unlike its milk-derived cousin lactitol, its name hides nothing.
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.
Polysorbates (Polysorbate 80, E433)Polysorbate 80 is the emulsifier that keeps ice cream smooth and sauces from splitting. It is built partly from a fatty acid, and that fatty acid is where the vegan question lives.
Frequently asked
Is E420 vegan?
Yes. E420 is sorbitol, made from plant-derived glucose, so it is vegan.
What is sorbitol used for?
It sweetens sugar-free products and keeps foods and toothpaste moist. It is a plant-derived sugar alcohol and vegan.
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