Emulsifier

Studies in people

• Concern

  Type 2 diabetes risk³

  In a large study of French adults, eating more emulsifiers like carrageenan and xanthan gum was linked to more type 2 diabetes.

• Concern

  Heart and stroke risk⁴

  In adults, higher intake of some emulsifiers was linked to higher risk of heart and blood vessel problems.

• No harm found

  Crohn's disease activity⁵

  In adults with Crohn's disease, a four-week diet higher or lower in emulsifiers made no difference to disease activity.

Animal and lab studies only

• Open question

  Gut inflammation risk⁹

  In lab studies, emulsifiers may add to gut inflammation by changing gut bacteria and gut lining.

• Open question

  Gut and metabolic health¹⁰

  In lab and animal studies and small human tests, emulsifiers may affect gut and metabolic health, but more research is needed.

• Concern

  Gut bacteria and inflammation¹¹

  In lab studies, many emulsifiers like carrageenans and gums changed gut bacteria in ways that could promote inflammation.

Study type not stated

• Open question

  Gut bacteria and metabolic health⁶

  Some emulsifiers may affect gut bacteria and metabolic health, but many questions remain.

• Open question

  Gut bacteria and bowel cancer⁷

  Emulsifiers like polysorbates and carboxymethylcellulose may change gut bacteria and let bowel cancer develop, but scientists do not yet know for sure.

• Open question

  Blood sugar and diabetes risk⁸

  Scientists do not yet know whether emulsifiers in food help cause type 2 diabetes.

The signal at the top counts the findings in people and in animal and lab studies. A concern in studies of people outranks animal and lab studies, and “No concerns” needs at least one finding in people. When most findings in people point one way, the page leans that way (“Mostly”), and every finding is still shown. Findings whose study type is not stated are shown but not counted. This page is a reference, not medical advice. It describes what regulators and published research say. Talk to a doctor or dietitian about your own diet.