Polysorbate 80
Synthetic emulsifier; microbiome studies debated.
- Category
- Emulsifiers, Stabilisers
- Acceptable daily intake
- 25 mg/kg body weight/day (EFSA)
- Vegan
- maybe
- Vegetarian
- maybe
- From palm oil
- maybe
What it is
Polysorbate 80 (E433) is a highly effective, synthetic emulsifier. It forces oil and water to mix smoothly, preventing separation in processed foods.
How it is used in food
A detergent-like emulsifier used in ice cream and sauces.
Commonly found in- Ice cream (prevents ice crystals and makes it melt smoothly)
- Salad dressings
- Chewing gum
Health and safety
A widely cited 2015 Nature study found it thinned the gut’s protective mucus layer in mice, promoting inflammation.
Polysorbates are currently under intense scrutiny from the scientific community. While EFSA approved a group ADI of 25 mg/kg bw/day in 2015 based on traditional toxicology, newer microbiome research has raised alarms.
Microbiome disruption and inflammation
Animal studies demonstrate that polysorbates can erode the gut mucosal barrier, promoting bacterial translocation and chronic inflammation.
Human relevance is still being tested.
Regulatory status
| Region | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Australia & New Zealand FSANZ |
Permitted | Permitted. |
| European Union EFSA / European Commission |
Permitted | Authorised for food use under EU regulations (Annex II). |
| United States FDA (Food and Drug Administration) |
Permitted | Approved as a direct food additive: polysorbate 60 (21 CFR 172.836), 65 (172.838), 80 (172.840). |
Identification on labels
- E-number
- E433
Alternatives to this additive
- E322: Lecithins — A plant- or egg-derived emulsifier, and the one least implicated in the gut-barrier research on synthetic emulsifiers.
How it is made
Produced by reacting sorbitol and a specific fatty acid with ethylene oxide (a petrochemical gas) to make it water-soluble.
- Ethoxylation — Ethylene oxide gas is reacted with a sorbitan ester to form the final polysorbate.
Worth knowing
It put emulsifiers on researchers’ radar.
Conclusion
The concern comes from Chassaing et al. (Nature, 2015), where polysorbate 80 — this additive — stripped the protective mucus layer from the gut lining in mice, letting bacteria reach the intestinal wall and driving low-grade inflammation linked to metabolic syndrome and IBD. Whether the same happens at dietary doses in humans is not settled, though feeding trials on emulsifiers so far point the same way. EFSA's 25 mg/kg group ADI predates this literature.
References
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Open the appEntry last reviewed 2026-07-28.
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