Isomalt
E953
E953, INS 953, isomalt, hydrogenated isomaltulose, isomaltitol, Palatinit, isomaltulose hydrogenation products
What it is
Isomalt (INS 953 / E953) is a mixture of polyols produced by hydrogenating isomaltulose. It is a bulk sweetener: unlike high-intensity sweeteners, it contributes both sweetness and physical volume to food.
Why BOTIA flags it
Isomalt replaces both the sweetness and the bulk of sugar, so it can be used in much larger amounts than intense sweeteners; under EU nutrition-labelling rules, polyols such as isomalt count as 2.4 kcal/g, not zero. Part of it is not absorbed in the small intestine: the unabsorbed fraction has an osmotic effect and is fermented in the large intestine, which is why larger amounts can cause gas or laxative effects. JECFA assigned an ADI “not specified”, while EU labels require the warning “excessive consumption may produce laxative effects” only when a food contains more than 10% added polyols — below that threshold, isomalt can be present without that specific warning.
BOTIA CAN
- Detect E953, INS 953, isomalt, hydrogenated isomaltulose and isomaltitol when explicitly declared.
- Explain its bulk-sweetener function, its EU energy conversion factor, its gastrointestinal behaviour, the JECFA ADI and the EU 10% warning threshold.
BOTIA CANNOT
- Determine how much isomalt or what percentage of added polyols is present from the ingredient list alone.
- Decide from the ingredient name alone whether a laxative warning is legally required or predict an individual's digestive response.