What E967 actually is
Xylitol is as sweet as sugar with about 40 percent fewer calories, and it produces a distinct cooling sensation on the tongue as it dissolves. It is the sweetener of choice in dental products because the bacteria that cause tooth decay cannot ferment it, so it starves them rather than feeding them.
What it is made from
Produced from xylan, a plant fibre, usually from birch wood or corn cobs. It occurs naturally in small amounts in many fruits and vegetables, and the human body makes small quantities as part of normal metabolism.
Vegan, vegetarian, and halal status
Xylitol is plant-derived and contains no ethanol, so it suits vegan, vegetarian, and halal diets.
Is E967 safe?
Xylitol is permitted with no numerical intake limit and has an accepted dental benefit that the EU allows as a health claim: chewing gum sweetened with 100 percent xylitol reduces tooth decay. Like other polyols it carries the mandatory laxative-effect warning above 10 percent. The one warning that genuinely matters beyond that is not about humans: xylitol causes a rapid, dangerous insulin release in dogs, leading to hypoglycaemia and liver failure. Very small amounts can kill a dog, and sugar-free gum in a handbag is a common route.
- Acutely toxic to dogs, causing hypoglycaemia and liver failure at small doses
- Laxative effect and bloating at higher intakes, as with other polyols
- A FODMAP polyol, restricted on low-FODMAP diets
- Mandatory excessive consumption may produce laxative effects warning above 10 percent
Where regulators stand
- EFSA (EU)
- Permitted with no numerical intake limit. Authorised health claim for reduced tooth decay from 100 percent xylitol chewing gum.
- FDA (US)
- Generally recognized as safe.
Foods it turns up in
- Sugar-free chewing gum and mints
- Toothpaste and mouthwash
- Sugar-free sweets and chocolate
- Some medicines and supplements
- Baking sweetener sold as birch sugar
Names it hides behind
- E967
- Xylitol
- Birch sugar
- Sweetener (E967)
Common questions
- Is xylitol dangerous for dogs?
- Yes, seriously so. It triggers a rapid insulin release causing hypoglycaemia and liver failure, and small amounts can be fatal. Sugar-free gum left within reach is a common cause.
- Is xylitol good for teeth?
- Yes, and this is one of the few authorised health claims for a sweetener. Decay-causing bacteria cannot ferment it, so it does not feed them.
- Is xylitol halal and vegan?
- Yes. It is made from plant fibre and contains no ethanol despite the sugar alcohol name.
- Does xylitol cause digestive problems?
- At higher intakes yes, like other polyols. It carries the mandatory laxative-effect warning above 10 percent content.
- Is birch sugar the same as xylitol?
- Yes. Birch sugar is a marketing name for xylitol, reflecting one of the raw materials it can be made from.
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.