Polyglycitol syrup
A safe low-calorie sweetener; consume in moderation to avoid gastric distress.
- Category
- Sweeteners
- Vegan
- Yes
- Vegetarian
- Yes
What it is
A sugar alcohol used as a bulk sweetener and texturizer, providing fewer calories than sugar.
How it is used in food
Polyglycitol syrup is a bulk sweetener — a hydrogenated starch hydrolysate containing sorbitol, maltitol and larger hydrogenated oligosaccharides — that provides body, texture and mouthfeel in place of sugar, something high-intensity sweeteners cannot do alone. It is only about 25–50% as sweet as sucrose but supplies roughly 2.4 kcal per gram, resists crystallising in sugar-free hard candy and chewing gum, holds moisture as a humectant, and cannot be fermented by oral bacteria, so it does not cause caries.
Commonly found in- Sugar-free candies
- Chewing gum
Health and safety
Safe, but excessive consumption can cause laxative effects or bloating.
EFSA evaluated polyglycitol syrup and concluded it was of no safety concern, without setting a numerical ADI — the limiting factor is gastrointestinal tolerance, not systemic effects. Tolerance varies widely between individuals and adapts with regular intake, so guidance is generally expressed as advice on portion size rather than as a toxicological limit.
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
- E964
Worth knowing
Its laxative reputation is straightforward physics rather than toxicity: the polyols are absorbed slowly and incompletely, so they stay in the gut lumen, hold water osmotically and feed colonic bacteria that produce gas. That is also why EU law requires foods containing more than 10% added polyols to state "excessive consumption may produce laxative effects".
Conclusion
A safe low-calorie sweetener; consume in moderation to avoid gastric distress.
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Open the appEntry last reviewed 2026-07-28.
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