Is e420 vegan?

E420 is the European food additive code for sorbitol, a sugar alcohol widely used as a bulk sweetener, humectant, and stabilizer. Although sorbitol occurs naturally in fruits such as apples, pears, and berries, the commercial additive is manufactured industrially through the catalytic hydrogenation of glucose. This glucose feedstock is extracted from plant starches, most commonly corn, wheat, or potato.

Manufacturers list E420 in a wide variety of items, particularly sugar-free and low-calorie foods. It frequently appears in chewing gums, breath mints, hard candies, baked goods, icings, and dietetic desserts, as well as oral care products such as toothpaste and mouthwash, where it helps retain moisture.

E420 is classified as vegan because its production relies entirely on plant-derived agricultural materials and chemical processing. Animal tissues, secretions, and animal-derived processing aids are not used at any stage of the synthesis of commercial sorbitol.