Polysorbate 80
The short version
A common surfactant in ice cream, sauces, and pharmaceuticals — a central focus of gut microbiome research.
An emulsifier allowed within a group limit of 25 mg per kg of body weight a day (EFSA 2015; JECFA confirmed it in 2026). We flag it because a 2015 study in mice linked it to gut-microbiome changes and low-grade inflammation, and studies in people are still limited.
Safety profile
ADI of 25 mg/kg body weight (combined polysorbates). A widely cited 2015 study (Chassaing & Gewirtz, Nature) showed that polysorbate 80 at low doses altered gut microbiota and induced low-grade intestinal inflammation in mice. Subsequent human studies are limited but the topic is among the most active areas in emulsifier safety research.
Sources
- EFSA — Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of polysorbates (E 432–436) as food additives (EFSA Journal 2015;13(7):4152, doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2015.4152) — European Food Safety Authority (EFSA ANS Panel), 2015. EFSA group ADI 25 mg/kg bw/day (2015)
- WHO JECFA database — Polysorbate 80 (evaluation 2026, 102nd meeting) — Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), 2026. JECFA 2026 confirms group ADI 0-25 mg/kg bw
- 21 CFR 172.840 — Polysorbate 80 (CFR 2025 edition) — U.S. FDA / Code of Federal Regulations (govinfo.gov, 2025 edition), 2025. US permitted uses with maximum levels
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