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Answer: Erythritol is not currently banned worldwide, but health agencies have flagged concerns. The FDA still allows it in US food. Risk level: medium. Commonly found in: Swerve Sweetener, Truvia, Halo Top Ice Cream.
TL;DR: Erythritol is allowed in the EU but allowed in the US (food additives).
Reviewed for clarity & usefulness by the BannedPantry Parent Panel
Also called E968. (E968) CAS 149-32-6.
Other names: E968, meso-erythritol, INS 968
| EU status | Allowed |
|---|---|
| US status | Allowed |
| Risk level | medium |
| Where it shows up | Swerve Sweetener, Truvia, Halo Top Ice Cream, Quest Bars, Zevia Soda |
| CAS number | 149-32-6 |
Erythritol is a four-carbon sugar alcohol naturally occurring in small amounts in fruits, fermented foods, and mushrooms. Commercially produced via fermentation of glucose by yeasts such as Moniliella pollinis, it has approximately 70% of sucrose's sweetness, provides 0.24 kcal/g, and has a glycemic index of 0. It is nearly completely absorbed in the small intestine and excreted unchanged in urine, which explains its unusually low laxative effect compared to other polyols.
Used as a zero-calorie bulk sweetener in keto products, reduced-calorie beverages, and baked goods; often blended with stevia or monk fruit to improve taste.
A 2023 observational study published in Nature Medicine (Hazen et al., Cleveland Clinic) found that elevated blood erythritol levels were associated with increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), including heart attack and stroke. Additionally, erythritol was found to enhance platelet aggregation in vitro. This study was widely reported and has generated significant scientific debate; critics note that it was observational (not causational), and that the study population had pre-existing cardiovascular risk factors. Regulatory agencies have not changed their approval status. The long-term cardiovascular implications require further research.
For educational use only. This page summarizes the regulatory status of Erythritolwith citations to the primary sources below. It is not medical advice. Regulatory status is not the same as a proven health effect — read the cited sources for their exact wording, and consult a doctor for decisions about your or your family's health.
Monk fruit extract and stevia leaf extract provide zero-calorie sweetness without the cardiovascular signals observed with erythritol.
Currently approved worldwide, but a major 2023 Nature Medicine study raised concerns about cardiovascular risk signals. Further research is ongoing.
Less so than sorbitol or mannitol because it is mostly absorbed before reaching the colon. Large amounts can still cause GI discomfort.
Yes — it has a glycemic index of 0 and does not raise blood insulin or glucose.
It showed association (not causation) between blood erythritol and cardiovascular events. Regulatory agencies have not restricted it, but health-conscious consumers are watching developing research.
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