Polysorbate 80

What this is

Polysorbate 80 is a common food additive that helps blend ingredients like oil and water. It’s an emulsifier used in products such as ice creams, milkshakes, sauces, and pickles to improve texture and stability. U.S. and European regulators permit Polysorbate 80 in foods at low levels (often around 0.1–0.5% in the final product) because it has been considered safe in these small amounts. Some recent studies in animals have hinted that very high doses of Polysorbate 80 might irritate the gut or affect metabolism. So far, however, there’s no strong evidence of harm in people from the typical amounts used in fast-food items.

Critical Endpoints

The key endpoints experts review in safety assessments (critical endpoints). This is not a prediction of harm.