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Sweetener

E421 (mannitol): what it is, its sources, vegan or not

E421 is mannitol, a sweetener. E421 can come from sugar or seaweed. Vegan and vegetarian profiles get Fits you.

By Bravoora teamUpdated Sources checked 4 sourcesHow we check

Fits you

for a vegan profile

E421=sugar or seaweed

What is E421?

E421 (mannitol) is a sweetener, an additive that gives a food a sweet taste. Eating a lot may have a laxative effect. EU labels must say so when more than 10% is added.

What is E421 made from?

E421 can come from sugar or seaweed.

  • Sugar
  • Seaweed

Is E421 vegan?

Fits you. E421 can come from sugar or seaweed. Nothing from an animal.

What the app says to each profile, and the reason it shows.

VeganFits youE421 can come from sugar or seaweed. Nothing from an animal.
VegetarianFits youE421 can come from sugar or seaweed. Nothing from an animal.

What other names does E421 have on a label?

On a label, E421 can also appear as “INS 421”, “Sweetener (421)”, “Sweetener (E421)” or “Mannitol”.

Any of these on a pack means E421. The checker reads them all.

E421E 421E-421INS 421Sweetener (421)Sweetener (E421)Mannitol

What would change the answer for E421?

For E421, only the ingredient list itself: a code the camera cannot read gets Needs one more scan, and the app never guesses a code it cannot see.

Sources: EU, US and Codex additive rules

Where additives are listed and approved. Bravoora reads the source and the diet; it does not rate the hazard.

  1. EU Regulation 1333/2008 on food additives (the E-number list)
  2. EU Regulation 1169/2011, Annex II: the allergen sources a label must name
  3. US FDA: Food Additive Status List
  4. FAO/WHO Codex: General Standard for Food Additives (GSFA) online

Names and classes cross-checked with Open Food Facts (Open Database License).

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