At a glance

How does Maltitol appear on a UK label?

Names to look formaltitol, maltitol syrup, hydrogenated maltose, E965, E965(i), E965(ii)
E-numberE965
Why it is usedBulk sweetness with texture closer to sugar than many intense sweeteners.
Common inNo-added-sugar chocolate, protein bars, sweets and bakery fillings.

Useful label-reading detail

A whole bar may contain several labelled servings. Check maltitol/E965, total polyols and the real portion.

How it is classified

A polyol and FODMAP-relevant sweetener. It is not an emulsifier.

Why amount matters

Gastrointestinal effects are typically dose-related; a whole bar can provide much more maltitol than a token serving.

Evidence by study type

What do studies show about Maltitol?

Systematic review

What was studied: Human polyol research supports dose as a central part of interpretation.

What it cannot tell us: The exact maltitol dose in a commercial bar may remain undisclosed.

SourcesPolyol systematic review

What human studies show about Maltitol

Controlled studies and reviews report laxative and gastrointestinal symptoms at higher intakes, with variable thresholds.

SourcesPolyol systematic reviewUK food-labelling guidanceUK approved-additives listGreat Britain food-additive register

What animal or laboratory studies suggest about Maltitol

Animal evidence is not needed to establish dose-related human tolerance effects. Incomplete absorption and fermentation explain why the amount eaten matters.

SourcesPolyol systematic reviewUK food-labelling guidanceUK approved-additives listGreat Britain food-additive register

What we still do not know about Maltitol

Ingredient position alone cannot quantify maltitol or predict symptoms.

Great Britain regulatory context

E965 is an authorised sweetener in Great Britain with applicable conditions and warning rules.

SourcesPolyol systematic reviewUK food-labelling guidanceUK approved-additives listGreat Britain food-additive register

Common questions

Questions people ask about this label

Can “no added sugar” still mean a high polyol intake?

Yes. Maltitol can replace added sugar while still supplying substantial bulk sweetener. Check the ingredient list, the polyols line and the portion.

SourcesUK food-labelling guidance

Are maltitol and maltitol syrup identical?

They are closely related E965 forms but not the same physical preparation. Both are relevant label clues for polyol exposure.

SourcesUK approved-additives list

Why does the whole bar matter?

A manufacturer serving can be smaller than the amount people normally eat. Polyol effects follow the total amount consumed, so multiply per-serving values when the panel supplies them.

SourcesPolyol systematic review

References

Sources used for this page

  1. Lenhart and Chey (2017), Systematic review of polyols and gastrointestinal health
  2. UK Government, Food labelling: giving food information to consumers
  3. Food Standards Agency, Approved additives and E numbers
  4. Food Standards Agency, Register of food-additive authorisations for Great Britain

Written and evidence-checked by the GutGuard editorial team. We favour official UK guidance, systematic reviews and primary human research, and label animal, laboratory and exploratory findings clearly. Read our editorial method.