E322Antioxidant · Emulsifier
Lecithins
Fatty substances from plants and animals that attract both water and fat.
It smooths food textures, blends liquids together, and stops things from sticking.
Written from English Wikipedia1
- May not be vegan
- May not be vegetarian
- EU permitted
What research says
Study type not stated
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Benefit
Blood fat levels2
A review found lecithin supplements clearly lower blood cholesterol, especially in people with high blood fats.
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Benefit
Baby formula fat absorption3
Lecithin helped baby formula fats break down better, which may help babies get enough fat.
How it’s made and used
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Particle size in storage4
In lab studies, lecithin particles in water stayed small for three months when kept cold, but grew larger at room temperature.
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 two findings in people. 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.
Regulatory status
Checked Sep 2026-
United States Permitted FDA 21 CFR 184.1400
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European Union Permitted EUR-Lex Reg. (EC) 1333/2008
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United Kingdom Permitted FSA retained EU law
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Canada Permitted Health Canada · Emulsifying Gelling Stabilizing Thickening Agents
Status reflects the named register on the date checked. It is not a safety rating.
How we checkProducts
The 6 most-scanned of 76,410 products on Open Food Facts that list lecithins.
- Prince Goût Chocolat au blé complet Mondelez · 300 g 3 additives
- Sésame Gerblé · 230 g 4 additives
- Nutella nutella · 1 kg 2 additives
- Geröstete Mandel Ohne Zucker alpro · 1 l 3 additives
- Nutella Plant-Based Ferrero · 350 g 2 additives
- Шоколад 85% какаова маса J. D. GROSS · 125 g 1 additive
References
- 1Lecithin. Wikipedia. Accessed September 26, 2026.
- 2Robert C, Couëdelo L, Vaysse C, Michalski MC. Vegetable lecithins: A review of their compositional diversity, impact on lipid metabolism and potential in cardiometabolic disease prevention. Biochimie. 2020;169:121-132. doi:10.1016/j.biochi.2019.11.017
- 3Zhu X, Wang Q, Leng Y, et al. Lecithin alleviates protein flocculation and enhances fat digestion in a model of infant formula emulsion. Food Chem. 2021;346:128918. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2020.128918
- 4Edris AE. Formulation and shelf life stability of water-borne lecithin nanoparticles for potential application in dietary supplements field. J Diet Suppl. 2012;9(3):211-22. doi:10.3109/19390211.2012.708717