Sorbitol
Sorbitol suppliers and sourcing guide
Sorbitol is a six-carbon sugar alcohol (polyol) made by hydrogenating glucose, usually from corn or wheat starch, over a metal catalyst. It is sold both as a 70 percent solution and as crystalline powder. It is used as a sweetener, humectant and bulking agent in sugar-free confectionery, chewing gum, oral-care products, liquid formulas and chewable tablets.
- Category
- Sweeteners
- Also known as
- E420 · D-glucitol · D-sorbitol · CAS 50-70-4
- Facts checked
- November 2026
Forms and grades of sorbitol
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Sorbitol solution 70% (crystallizing)
Aqueous solution at about 70 percent solids that can crystallize on standing, used in confectionery and some food applications.
Sorbitol solution 70% (non-crystallizing)
Solution containing other hydrogenated sugars so it stays liquid, used as a humectant in foods, toothpaste and cosmetics.
Crystalline powder
Dry sorbitol for dry mixes, chewing gum and tablets.
Directly compressible (DC) grade
Granulated sorbitol made for direct-compression tablets and chewables.
USP/NF grade
Sorbitol tested to the pharmacopeial monograph for drug and supplement manufacturers who need compendial grade.
What to check on the COA
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
- Assay (HPLC)
- D-sorbitol content on a dry basis by HPLC, with mannitol and other polyols reported; for solutions, sorbitol as percent of solids.
- Reducing and total sugars
- Residual glucose after hydrogenation, and total sugars after hydrolysis; both affect browning and stability.
- Water or solids
- Water by Karl Fischer for powder; solids, specific gravity or refractive index for solutions.
- Nickel and lead
- Nickel from the hydrogenation catalyst and lead, by ICP-MS or atomic absorption.
- Microbiology
- Total plate count, yeast and mold, and pathogens, particularly for solutions.
Storage, lots and expiry
Storage and shelf life
Crystalline sorbitol is hygroscopic and should be kept sealed in a dry area to prevent caking. Solutions should be stored closed at moderate temperature; crystallizing grades can form crystals if kept cold. Shelf life is set by the supplier's specification, with retest of assay, water or solids, and micro for aged stock.
Lots and expiry dates
Record solids or water and the sorbitol assay for each lot, since solution concentration sets how much sorbitol goes into a batch. Note whether a solution lot is a crystallizing or non-crystallizing type, as they are not interchangeable.
Regulatory status
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
21 CFR 184.1835 affirms sorbitol as GRAS for use in food, listing functions including humectant, nutritive sweetener, stabilizer and thickener, and texturizer.
Source: ecfr.gov (opens in a new tab)21 CFR 184.1835 requires the statement "Excess consumption may have a laxative effect" on foods whose reasonably foreseeable consumption may result in a daily ingestion of 50 grams of sorbitol.
Source: ecfr.gov (opens in a new tab)21 CFR 101.9 allows a general factor of 2.6 calories per gram for sorbitol when calculating calories for nutrition labeling.
Source: ecfr.gov (opens in a new tab)Health Canada's List of Permitted Sweeteners includes sorbitol and sorbitol syrup.
Source: canada.ca (opens in a new tab)
This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.
Sorbitol suppliers
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
We are checking sorbitol suppliers now
Every listing is checked against the supplier’s own website before it goes live, so this list fills in over the coming weeks. The specs and COA checklist above are ready today.
Sell sorbitol? Request a listingFrequently asked questions
What forms of sorbitol can brands buy?
Common forms include sorbitol solution 70% (crystallizing), sorbitol solution 70% (non-crystallizing), crystalline powder, directly compressible (DC) grade and uSP/NF grade. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
What should the COA for sorbitol include?
Expect assay (HPLC), reducing and total sugars, water or solids, nickel and lead and microbiology, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
How should sorbitol be stored?
Crystalline sorbitol is hygroscopic and should be kept sealed in a dry area to prevent caking. Solutions should be stored closed at moderate temperature; crystallizing grades can form crystals if kept cold. Shelf life is set by the supplier's specification, with retest of assay, water or solids, and micro for aged stock.
What is the regulatory status of sorbitol?
21 CFR 184.1835 affirms sorbitol as GRAS for use in food, listing functions including humectant, nutritive sweetener, stabilizer and thickener, and texturizer. 21 CFR 184.1835 requires the statement "Excess consumption may have a laxative effect" on foods whose reasonably foreseeable consumption may result in a daily ingestion of 50 grams of sorbitol. 21 CFR 101.9 allows a general factor of 2.6 calories per gram for sorbitol when calculating calories for nutrition labeling. Health Canada's List of Permitted Sweeteners includes sorbitol and sorbitol syrup.
More sweeteners
- AlluloseD-allulose · D-psicose
- Monk Fruit ExtractLuo han guo extract · Siraitia grosvenorii fruit extract
- Steviastevia leaf extract · steviol glycosides
- SucraloseE955 · 1,6-dichloro-1,6-dideoxy-β-D-fructofuranosyl-4-chloro-4-deoxy-α-D-galactopyranoside
- AspartameE951 · L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester
- Acesulfame potassiumAcesulfame K · Ace-K
- SaccharinSodium saccharin · Calcium saccharin
- NeotameE961 · N-[N-(3,3-dimethylbutyl)-L-α-aspartyl]-L-phenylalanine 1-methyl ester
- AdvantameE969 · CAS 714229-20-6
- ErythritolE968 · meso-erythritol
- XylitolE967 · birch sugar
- MaltitolE965 · 4-O-α-D-glucopyranosyl-D-glucitol
Sell ingredients to brands?
Request a free listing for the ingredients you make or distribute. No paid placement.