Foods Containing E966 (Lactitol)
E966 (Lactitol) is a sugar alcohol made from lactose, which comes from milk, used as a artificial & intense sweetener to help sweeten foods with fewer or zero calories than sugar. Here's where you're most likely to find it on food labels.
Common foods that contain E966
E966 is used across diet soft drinks, sugar-free gum, desserts, yoghurts and low-calorie foods. The foods where it appears most often include:
- Diet soft drinks
- Sugar-free gum
- Desserts
- Yoghurts and low-calorie foods
Exact usage varies by brand and recipe — the only way to know for certain whether a specific product contains E966 is to check its ingredients list, where it must be declared by law, either as "E966" or as "Lactitol".
How to spot E966 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 "artificial and intense sweeteners: E966" or "artificial and intense sweeteners: lactitol". In the US the E-number system isn't used, so look for the full name "Lactitol" instead.
Should you avoid foods containing E966?
E966 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 E966.
Full guide to E966: 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).