Is Lactitol Vegetarian?

Vegetarian and vegan status

The vegetarian answer turns on slaughter, and milk sugar involves none. The vegan answer turns on animal origin, so lactitol is not vegan. Sorbitol (E420) is a polyol made from plant starch.

Lactitol is not vegan. E966 is made by hydrogenating lactose, the sugar in milk, which is normally obtained from whey. It is vegetarian because no slaughter is involved, and EU allergen labeling exempts it from the milk declaration.

Animal origin: Mammal

What it is

Comes from

Producers hydrogenate lactose over a nickel catalyst, which turns the milk sugar into the sugar alcohol lactitol. Lactose is normally obtained from whey, the liquid left over from cheese making.

Animal route

cow, via milk sugar (lactose) from whey

Slaughter in the animal route

Collection does not require slaughter

Where you meet it

Energy-reduced or no-added-sugar confectionery, chewing gum, chocolate products, jams, edible ices, fine bakery wares, desserts and table-top sweeteners, the food groups where EU rules permit polyols.

What replaces it

Polyols hydrogenated from plant starch, such as sorbitol (E420).

Editorial notes

EU rules exempt lactitol from the milk allergen declaration, so a milk warning will not mention it. For a vegan diet, read E966 or lactitol on a sweetener list as a dairy-derived ingredient.

Sources

• 21 CFR 168.122 Lactose (Electronic Code of Federal Regulations via Cornell LII)
• Lactitol: JECFA specifications monograph (INS 966) (FAO and WHO JECFA)