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E1204Glazing agentLow concern
Pullulan
In plain words
The short version
A fermentation-made polysaccharide that forms clear edible films — breath strips, capsule shells, glazes.
Why it's green
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
No ADI specified; digested slowly and well tolerated.
The detail
A polysaccharide produced by fermenting starch with the fungus Aureobasidium pullulans.
Forms clear, oxygen-barrier edible films — used for breath-freshening strips, capsule shells (a vegetarian gelatin alternative), and glazing.
White, tasteless powder forming strong transparent films.
Permitted in the EU, the US (GRAS), and Japan (long history of use).
Sources
- WHO JECFA database — Pullulan (INS 1204), evaluations 2005 and 2011 — World Health Organization / JECFA, 2011. No ADI specified; well tolerated
- FDA GRAS Notice Inventory — GRN No. 99, Pullulan (closed 2002) — US Food and Drug Administration, 2002. US (GRAS) — FDA had no questions
- Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II Part E, consolidated text of 18 August 2026 — E 1204 — Publications Office of the European Union, 2026. Permitted in the EU (breath-freshening films, supplement capsules/tablets)
Checked against these sources on .
Educational information only. Not medical, dietary or veterinary advice. Spotted an error? Tell us.