Polydextrose
The short version
A randomly branched glucose polymer — soluble fiber and bulking agent for sugar-reduced foods.
It's widely considered safe at the amounts used in food, so we mark it green. The Safety section below has the details.
Safety profile
ADI not specified — considered safe. SCF and JECFA set a mean laxative threshold of 90 g per person per day, or 50 g as a single dose, and EFSA agreed in 2021, noting that sensitivity varies between people. In the US, foods where a single serving would exceed 15 g of polydextrose must carry a laxative-effect statement. EFSA notes it is recognised as a soluble fibre in several countries. In the US, FDA intends to propose adding it to the regulatory definition of dietary fiber and, until that rulemaking is done, allows it to be counted as dietary fiber on Nutrition Facts labels.
Sources
- EFSA — Re-evaluation of polydextrose (E 1200) as a food additive (2021) — EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings (FAF), EFSA Journal 19(1):6363, 2021. No numerical ADI needed; no safety concern; laxative threshold
- JECFA — Polydextroses (INS 1200), evaluation summary — WHO / Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives, 1987. JECFA ADI not specified
- US 21 CFR 172.841 — Polydextrose — US eCFR (Office of the Federal Register), 2026. US food additive approval and uses; laxative-effect label rule
- FDA — Questions and Answers on Dietary Fiber — US Food and Drug Administration, 2024. US fiber labelling status and 1 kcal/g caloric value
Checked against these sources on .
Educational information only. Not medical, dietary or veterinary advice. Spotted an error? Tell us.