Xylitol | whatsinit

About

What it is and where it shows up.

Xylitol is a naturally occurring sugar alcohol (polyol) found in many fruits and vegetables and commercially produced from xylan-rich materials such as birch wood or corn cobs. It is used as a bulk sweetener with approximately the same sweetness as sucrose but a lower caloric value and demonstrated dental-caries-reducing properties.

Safety summary

The regulatory and scientific consensus.

JECFA has allocated no numerical ADI for xylitol, indicating no quantitative daily intake limit is required under normal conditions of use. However, excessive consumption can produce osmotic laxative effects and gastrointestinal distress; the EU mandates a laxative warning label on foods containing more than 10% added polyols and prohibits polyols including xylitol in beverages. EFSA issued a call for data on E967 in 2021 as part of an ongoing re-evaluation of all approved polyol sweeteners.

Regulatory landscape

What food-safety regulators have decided.

Jurisdiction	Status	Note
EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union)	Restricted	Authorised as food additive E967 (polyol group) under Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008. Polyols including xylitol are not permitted in beverages due to laxative effects. Foods containing more than 10% added polyols must carry a laxative warning label per Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011. E967 is currently under EFSA re-evaluation; a call for data was published in June 2021 under Regulation (EU) No 257/2010.source
FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India)	Approved	Listed as a caloric sweetener (INS 967) under Chapter 3 of the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011. Maltitol syrup, Lactitol, and Xylitol are explicitly enumerated in the caloric sweetener category.source
FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (United States)	Approved	Permitted as a direct food additive under 21 CFR 172.395 as a sugar substitute. FDA notes sugar alcohols including xylitol do not promote tooth decay and do not cause a sudden increase in blood glucose. Used in sugar-free candies, cookies, and chewing gums.source

Who should approach with care

Whose guidance would steer them away.

Ibs — Xylitol is a FODMAP (fermentable polyol) that can exacerbate bloating, cramping, and diarrhoea in individuals with irritable bowel syndrome due to its osmotic and fermentative properties in the gut.

Ibd — The osmotic laxative effect of xylitol at moderate-to-high doses may aggravate gastrointestinal symptoms and fluid balance in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Children — The EU restricts polyols including xylitol from beverages and mandates laxative warning labels in part because the laxative threshold is more easily exceeded in young consumers, as noted in EFSA scientific opinions on polyols.

Infants — Polyol sweeteners including xylitol are not authorised in infant formula or infant nutrition products under EU Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 or FSSAI infant nutrition standards.

Other — Xylitol is acutely toxic to dogs (causes severe hypoglycaemia and hepatotoxicity); households with pets should exercise strict storage precautions, though this does not affect human safety.

Research citations

The sources behind this verdict.

1WHO. JECFA Food Additives and Contaminants Database: Xylitol (INS 967, CAS 87-99-0). apps.who.int
2FDA. Aspartame and Other Sweeteners in Food. fda.gov
3other. Codex/FAO-WHO Comment Compilation: Polyols in Food Categories – CCFA52 Appendix C. fao.org
4EFSA. State of play: the re-evaluation of sweeteners (including E967 Xylitol call for data), 2024. efsa.europa.eu
5FSSAI. Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011 – Chapter 3: Substances Added to Food, 2011. fssai.gov.in

Independently researched5 citations