My diet:

E432 Polysorbate 20

E432EmulsifiersOrigin: Lab-made
Get a personal answer

Pick your family’s diets in the bar above.

Every diet

VeganDepends

The lauric acid in polysorbate 20 can come from coconut or from animal fat.

Gluten-freeYes
HalalDepends

The fat source of polysorbate 20 needs a certificate.

KosherDepends

Polysorbate 20 needs a kosher certificate for the fat.

KetoYes
Low-FODMAPYes
The short answer
Polysorbate 20 (E432) is an emulsifier that keeps flavors and oils mixed, cousin to polysorbate 80. It is allowed within a group daily limit. Vegan status depends on where the fatty acid came from.
Use in moderation

Safe in small amounts; may bother some people or raise blood sugar.

E-numberE432
Comes fromLab-made
What it doesEmulsifiers
Glycemic index—
Daily limit25 mg/kg
Also calledPolysorbate 20, Tween 20

Rules by country

🇺🇸 US FDAApproved with limits
🇪🇺 European UnionApproved with limits
🇨🇦 Health CanadaApproved with limits
CaliforniaNo extra rules

Polysorbate 20 sits in the polysorbate group (E432–E436). EFSA's 2015 group limit is 25 mg per kg of body weight a day. US uses are limited by food category rather than sold as an unlimited GRAS emulsifier.

How much is too much? (Acceptable Daily Intake)

1.8 gper day is the safe upper limit

Based on 25 mg per kg of body weight (EFSA / JECFA). A 20 kg (44 lb) child: 500 mg a day.

What is it?

Ice cream, pickles and flavor oils use polysorbate 20 so droplets do not separate. It is also common in cosmetics. The food dose is what the daily limit is about.

Where it comes from: Polysorbate 20 is sorbitol treated with ethylene oxide and esterified with lauric acid. The lauric acid may come from coconut oil or from animal fat.

Why it’s in food

  • Stabilizes flavor oils
  • Emulsifies ice cream
  • Holds pickle brine
  • Disperses vitamins

Often found in

Ice creamPicklesFlavor oilsVitamin drinksCake mixesWhipped toppings

Also listed as: Polysorbate 20, Tween 20, Polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate

Health & gut impact

Group limitUnder study

EFSA set one 25 mg per kg limit for the whole polysorbate family, including polysorbate 20, after reviewing absorption of the ethylene-oxide chain.

EFSA re-evaluation of polysorbates (2015)

GutUnder study

High doses of polysorbates change how oils cross the gut lining in lab work. Food intakes are meant to stay under the group limit.

EFSA Panel on Food Additives (2015)

What can I use instead?

Sunflower lecithin

Ratio: Recipe dependent

Best for: A plant emulsifier

Egg yolk

Ratio: One yolk

Best for: Sauces, not vegan

Related

More emulsifiers:

Ammonium phosphatides E442Ammonium phosphatides (E442) are a chocolate emulsifier made from vegetable oil. They are an alternative to soy lecithin when a recipe needs chocolate to flow, and they are considered safe.Generally safeBrominated vegetable oil (BVO)Brominated vegetable oil (BVO) kept the citrus flavor from floating to the top of some sodas. The FDA banned it in 2024 because of thyroid effects, so check older or imported citrus drinks.Best to avoidDATEM (Diacetyl tartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides) E472eDATEM (E472e) is a dough strengthener that gives sandwich bread its tall, soft crumb. It's safe, but the fat it's made from may be animal-based.Generally safeLecithin (Soy / Sunflower) E322Lecithin (E322) is a natural fat from soy or sunflower that keeps chocolate, dressings and baked goods smooth. It's safe, vegan and gluten-free. People with a soy allergy should look for sunflower lecithin.Generally safe

Common questions

Is polysorbate 20 the same as polysorbate 80?

No. They share a backbone, but 20 is built on lauric acid and 80 on oleic acid. They are regulated as one family.

Is Polysorbate 20 safe?

Use in moderation (56/100). Polysorbate 20 sits in the polysorbate group (E432–E436). EFSA's 2015 group limit is 25 mg per kg of body weight a day. US uses are limited by food category rather than sold as an unlimited GRAS emulsifier.

Is Polysorbate 20 vegan?

Depends. The lauric acid in polysorbate 20 can come from coconut or from animal fat.

Spotted a mistake on this page? Report it ›

Scientific sources & regulatory citations
  • EFSA OpenFoodTox: E432
  • EFSA re-evaluation of polysorbates (2015)
  • EFSA Panel on Food Additives (2015)

INS 432 · CAS 9005-64-5