Is lactitol vegan?

Lactitol, also identified as food additive E966, is a sugar alcohol used as a low-calorie bulk sweetener and texturizer. It is commonly found in sugar-free candies, chewing gum, baked goods, chocolate, dairy desserts, and certain pharmaceutical products such as laxatives. It provides a clean, sweet taste while functioning as a bulking agent.

This ingredient is manufactured through the catalytic hydrogenation of lactose. Because lactose is a carbohydrate derived exclusively from the whey byproduct of cow's milk, lactitol relies directly on raw materials from the dairy industry.

Lactitol is classified as not vegan because its primary precursor is an animal product. Commercial manufacturing methods do not use plant-based or synthetic substitutes to produce the lactose required for its synthesis. Consequently, any food or pharmaceutical item listing lactitol contains an ingredient of dairy origin.