Glucosylated steviol glycosides
Provides food manufacturers with a better-tasting natural sweetener option.
- Category
- Sweeteners
- Vegan
- Yes
- Vegetarian
- Yes
What it is
Another modified stevia derivative where additional glucose molecules are added to improve sweetness and reduce bitterness.
How it is used in food
Adding extra glucose units to steviol glycosides improves both taste and handling: the sweetener dissolves more readily, resists precipitating out of concentrated syrups and beverages, and loses much of the bitter, metallic finish of unmodified stevia. Sweetening power drops somewhat with each added glucose, so the grade is chosen as a trade-off between potency and palatability.
Commonly found in- Beverages
- Sauces
- Desserts
Health and safety
Evaluated as safe, functioning identically to other steviol glycosides in the body.
EFSA assessed glucosylated steviol glycosides and found no safety concern at the proposed uses, placing them under the same group ADI of 4 mg per kg body weight per day as steviol equivalents. The reasoning is metabolic: gut bacteria strip the added glucose along with the original sugar units, so the compound converges on steviol — the same absorbed species already covered by the toxicology of every other steviol glycoside.
Regulatory status
| Region | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Australia & New Zealand FSANZ |
Permitted | Permitted under the FSANZ Food Standards Code. |
| European Union EFSA / European Commission |
Permitted | Authorised for food use under EU regulations (Annex II). |
| United States FDA (Food and Drug Administration) |
Permitted | Authorised for food use by the FDA (often GRAS for standard additives). |
Identification on labels
- E-number
- E960d
Worth knowing
The glucose is transferred using cyclodextrin glucanotransferase with starch as the donor — the same enzyme family used to make cyclodextrins for encapsulating flavours. The result is a family of compounds rather than one substance, and the specification defines how much glucosylation is allowed.
Conclusion
Provides food manufacturers with a better-tasting natural sweetener option.
References
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Open the appEntry last reviewed 2026-07-28.
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