My diet:

E958 Glycyrrhizin (Licorice root extract)

E958SweetenersOrigin: Plant
Get a personal answer

Pick your family’s diets in the bar above.

Every diet

VeganYes
Gluten-freeYes
HalalYes
KosherYes
KetoYes
Low-FODMAPYes
The short answer
Glycyrrhizin (E958) is a sweet extract from licorice root, about 50 times sweeter than sugar, used in candy and as a flavor booster. It is safe in small amounts, but heavy regular intake can raise blood pressure and lower potassium.
Use in moderation

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

E-numberE958
Comes fromPlant
What it doesSweeteners
Glycemic index—
Daily limitNot set
Also calledE958, Glycyrrhizic acid

Rules by country

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

Permitted in the US as a flavor and sweetener, and in the EU and Canada with set maximums. It is most common in licorice candy and traditional confectionery.

Daily limit: Experts haven’t set a number because normal food amounts are far below any level of concern.

What is it?

Glycyrrhizin is the sweet compound in licorice root. Makers extract and purify it, then use it in small amounts, where it adds sweetness and a warm, anise-like note.

Where it comes from: Extracted from the root of the licorice plant, Glycyrrhiza glabra, with hot water and then purified. It is roughly 50 times as sweet as sugar.

Why it’s in food

  • Sweetens licorice candy
  • Adds long-lasting sweetness to drinks
  • Boosts flavor in confectionery and baked goods
  • Rounds out sweetener blends

Often found in

Licorice candySoft drinksHerbal teasBaked goodsSweetener blends

Also listed as: E958, Glycyrrhizic acid, Liquorice root extract

Health & gut impact

Blood pressure and potassiumConcern

Glycyrrhizin can raise blood pressure and lower potassium in people who eat a lot of licorice over time. EFSA's 2010 opinion set 100 mg a day as an intake that most healthy adults can take without issue.

EFSA 2010 opinion on glycyrrhizinic acid

What can I use instead?

Stevia (E960)

Ratio: Varies; start low and taste

Best for: Sweetness without licorice flavor

Monk fruit extract

Ratio: Varies; start low and taste

Best for: Clean sweetness

Related

More sweeteners:

Acesulfame Potassium (Ace-K) E950Acesulfame potassium (Ace-K, E950) is a zero-calorie sweetener approved in the US, EU and Canada. EFSA re-checked it in 2025 and raised its daily limit. It's usually paired with sucralose or aspartame to hide a slightly bitter aftertaste.Use in moderationAdvantame E969Advantame (E969) is an extremely intense sweetener related to aspartame. Regulators approve it, and the amount in a food is tiny next to the daily limit. It does not carry aspartame's phenylalanine warning at normal use.Generally safeAlluloseAllulose is a "rare sugar" that tastes like sugar but has almost no calories and doesn't raise blood sugar. It's keto-friendly and browns like real sugar in baking.Generally safeAspartame E951Aspartame (E951) is a zero-calorie sweetener in diet soda. It's approved, but WHO's cancer agency called it "possibly carcinogenic" in 2023, and people with PKU must avoid it.Use in moderation

Common questions

Is licorice extract in food safe?

In normal amounts, yes. The concern is large, regular intake of licorice, which can raise blood pressure.

Is glycyrrhizin vegan?

Yes. It comes from a plant root.

Is Glycyrrhizin safe?

Use in moderation (58/100). Permitted in the US as a flavor and sweetener, and in the EU and Canada with set maximums. It is most common in licorice candy and traditional confectionery.

Spotted a mistake on this page? Report it ›

Scientific sources & regulatory citations
  • EFSA OpenFoodTox: E958
  • EFSA 2010 opinion on glycyrrhizinic acid

INS 958 · CAS 1405-86-3