E968: Erythritol
Main role: sweetening and bulking
Also listed as: meso-erythritol
What is E968 (Erythritol)?
Erythritol is a sugar alcohol used to add bulk and sweetness. It is often blended with intense sweeteners because its taste and sweetness level differ from those of table sugar.
What does it do in food?
Its main role is sweetening and bulking. Sweeteners differ in intensity, bulk, and processing behavior. Intense sweeteners often need other ingredients to replace sugar’s volume. A sweetener declaration therefore does not tell you the complete carbohydrate or calorie content.
Food and formulation examples
- Tabletop sweetener blends
- Sugar-reduced confectionery
- Desserts
These examples describe formulation roles, not a list of unrestricted legal uses. Availability and permitted applications differ by country and food category.
Label names and ingredient questions
Look for E968, E 968, or the ingredient name. Related names and label terms include meso-erythritol. A family code can cover more than one specified form; check the full declaration when the distinction matters.
EFSA's 2023 review addressed diarrhea and digestive tolerance. Studies of blood erythritol levels do not by themselves establish that eating erythritol causes cardiovascular disease; the distinction between a biomarker and measured dietary intake matters.
Is E968 safe?
EFSA’s 2023 intake limit is 0.5 g/kg body weight/day, based on protection against diarrhea. EFSA erythritol re-evaluation (2023).
A label identifies the ingredient but usually not its concentration. Calculating daily intake requires the amount in the food and the quantities eaten.
Authorization and conditions of use
The Great Britain food additive register lists E968 as Erythritol. This is an entry subject to its stated conditions, not unrestricted permission for every food. The record links to the applicable authorization terms. For an EU product, use the European Commission food additive database to check the relevant food category and limits. Other countries may use different names or rules.