E636
Maltol
What the research shows
PrototypeNot enough
published research on this page yet
1 health finding on this page so far · See the findings
A flavour enhancer found in larch bark and pine needles.
It gives foods a pleasant caramel aroma.
Written from English Wikipedia1
- Vegan
- Vegetarian
What research says
Animal and lab studies only
-
Concern
Bone loss from additives2
In lab studies, maltol blocked bone-building cells and boosted bone-breaking cells, and in mice it worsened bone loss.
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.
Products
The 6 most-scanned of 65 products on Open Food Facts that list maltol.
- Instant Noodles KO-LEE · 70 g 3 additives
- purdys assorted chocolate Sunset 14 additives
- Nutri Grain Fruits des champs Kellogg's · 37 g 12 additives
- Sandwich stuffers Mt. Olive 3 additives
- Sweet Relish Mt. Olive · 15 g 5 additives
- Sandwich Stuffers Mt. Olive Pickle Company Inc. · 28 g 3 additives
References
- 1Maltol. Wikipedia. Accessed September 26, 2026.
- 2Wang J, Wang Z, Feng J, et al. Maltol induces diabetic fragility fractures by disrupting the balance of bone remodeling. Cell Metab. 2026;38(6):1187-1200.e7. doi:10.1016/j.cmet.2026.03.001