What E1200 actually is
Polydextrose is glucose polymerised into chains the human gut cannot digest, so it adds bulk and a fibre count without adding sugar or many calories. It appears in reduced-sugar and high-fibre products because it does the job sugar was doing physically, holding moisture and giving body, without the sweetness or the calories.
What it is made from
Made by heating glucose with a small amount of sorbitol and an acid catalyst, which links the glucose units into branched chains. The glucose is plant-derived, usually from corn or wheat starch.
Vegan, vegetarian, and halal status
Polydextrose is plant-derived and synthetic in assembly, so it suits vegan, vegetarian, and halal diets. It is often mistaken for a sugar alcohol because sorbitol is used in its manufacture, but it is not one: it is a fibre, and it does not carry the laxative-effect labelling that polyols do.
Is E1200 safe?
Polydextrose is permitted in the EU, UK, and US with no numerical intake limit, and both EFSA and the FDA accept it as a dietary fibre for labelling purposes. Because it is fermented in the colon like other soluble fibres, large amounts cause gas and a laxative effect. The EU sets a threshold above which products must carry a statement about that, in the same way high-polyol products do.
- Fermented in the colon, so large amounts cause gas, bloating, and a laxative effect
- Counts as dietary fibre on the label in both the EU and the US
- Not a sugar alcohol, despite sorbitol being used in its manufacture
- About one calorie per gram, against four for sugar
Where regulators stand
- EFSA (EU)
- Permitted with no numerical intake limit. Accepted as dietary fibre for labelling.
- FDA (US)
- Generally recognized as safe and accepted as a dietary fibre.
Foods it turns up in
- Reduced-sugar and high-fibre bars
- Sugar-free confectionery and chocolate
- Baked goods and cereals
- Frozen desserts
- Meal replacement products
Names it hides behind
- E1200
- Polydextrose
- Soluble fibre (polydextrose)
- Bulking agent (E1200)
Common questions
- Is polydextrose a sugar alcohol?
- No. Sorbitol is used during manufacture, which causes the confusion, but polydextrose is a glucose polymer and is classed as a fibre. It does not carry the polyol laxative warning.
- Does polydextrose count as fibre?
- Yes. Both EFSA and the FDA accept it as dietary fibre for labelling, which is why it appears in products advertising a high fibre count.
- Is polydextrose vegan and halal?
- Yes. It is assembled from plant-derived glucose with no animal input.
- Does polydextrose raise blood sugar?
- Very little. It is largely indigestible, contributing about one calorie per gram against four for sugar, with minimal glycaemic effect.
- Why does it upset my stomach?
- It ferments in the colon like other soluble fibres. Large amounts produce gas and a laxative effect, which is why high-content products carry a statement about it.
Checking a real pack
This page answers the code. The pack in your hand is what decides, because the same code can come from different sources depending on the manufacturer. LabelWise, formerly SafeChoice, scans the label and explains what is in front of you.
LabelWise content is educational and describes how additives are made, regulated, and labelled. It is not medical, dietary, or religious advice. For certification questions, the mark on the pack and the certifying body are the authority.