At a glance

How does Xylitol appear on a UK label?

Names to look forxylitol, birch sugar, wood sugar, E967
E-numberE967
Why it is usedSweetening, moisture retention and use in dental products.
Common inSugar-free gum and mints, dental products, tabletop sweeteners and baked goods.

Useful label-reading detail

“Birch sugar” is not a gentler molecule. Check repeated pieces of gum or mints, not just one piece.

How it is classified

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

Why amount matters

Small quantities may be tolerated while larger or repeated servings may not be.

Evidence by study type

What do studies show about Xylitol?

Human and veterinary evidence

What was studied: Human gastrointestinal evidence is dose-related. Dental evidence differs by product, while veterinary guidance treats dog ingestion as an emergency.

What it cannot tell us: Use in a dental product does not imply unlimited digestive tolerance, and human safety cannot be transferred to dogs.

SourcesPolyol systematic reviewCochrane xylitol dental reviewFDA xylitol dog-safety guidance

What human studies show about Xylitol

Human gastrointestinal effects are dose-related. A Cochrane review found low-quality evidence for a xylitol-plus-fluoride toothpaste effect and insufficient evidence for most other xylitol products, including gum.

SourcesPolyol systematic reviewUK food-labelling guidanceUK approved-additives listGreat Britain food-additive registerCochrane xylitol dental reviewFDA xylitol dog-safety guidance

What animal or laboratory studies suggest about Xylitol

Xylitol has a separate, urgent species-specific safety issue: it can poison dogs. Incomplete absorption explains human gastrointestinal effects; dogs can experience a rapid insulin release and dangerous hypoglycaemia.

SourcesPolyol systematic reviewUK food-labelling guidanceUK approved-additives listGreat Britain food-additive registerCochrane xylitol dental reviewFDA xylitol dog-safety guidance

What we still do not know about Xylitol

Labels do not provide a personal-use threshold.

Great Britain regulatory context

E967 is an authorised sweetener in Great Britain. Products with sufficient added polyols require the relevant warning.

SourcesPolyol systematic reviewUK food-labelling guidanceUK approved-additives listGreat Britain food-additive registerCochrane xylitol dental reviewFDA xylitol dog-safety guidance

Common questions

Questions people ask about this label

Are xylitol, birch sugar and E967 the same?

Yes. “Birch sugar” is a marketing or source-related name for xylitol, not a chemically different sweetener.

SourcesFDA xylitol dog-safety guidanceUK approved-additives list

Does use in dental products mean xylitol cannot affect digestion?

No. Dental outcomes and gastrointestinal tolerance are different questions. Evidence for dental benefit varies by product, and repeated gum or mints can raise the swallowed dose.

SourcesPolyol systematic reviewCochrane xylitol dental review

What should I do if a dog eats xylitol?

Contact a vet, emergency animal clinic or animal poison service immediately. Do not wait for symptoms; xylitol can cause rapid, life-threatening effects in dogs.

SourcesFDA xylitol dog-safety guidance

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
  5. Cochrane, Xylitol-containing products for preventing dental caries
  6. US Food and Drug Administration, Xylitol is dangerous for dogs

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.