Foods Containing E444 (Sucrose Acetate Isobutyrate)
E444 (Sucrose Acetate Isobutyrate) is made from sugar, used as a stabiliser to help keep food texture consistent and stop ingredients separating. Here's where you're most likely to find it on food labels.
Common foods that contain E444
E444 is used across desserts, dairy products, sauces, dressings and processed foods. The foods where it appears most often include:
- Desserts
- Dairy products
- Sauces
- Dressings and processed foods
Exact usage varies by brand and recipe — the only way to know for certain whether a specific product contains E444 is to check its ingredients list, where it must be declared by law, either as "E444" or as "Sucrose Acetate Isobutyrate".
How to spot E444 on a label
In the UK and EU, additives must appear in the ingredients list with their function and either their E-number or full name — for example "stabilisers: E444" or "stabilisers: sucrose acetate isobutyrate". In the US the E-number system isn't used, so look for the full name "Sucrose Acetate Isobutyrate" instead.
Should you avoid foods containing E444?
E444 is considered safe. It is authorised across the EU, UK and US, and safety evaluations by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) have not identified health concerns at the levels used in food. For most people there is no reason to avoid E444.
Full guide to E444: safety, vegan and halal status →
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Additive data sourced from Open Food Facts (ODbL licence) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).