E999Emulsifier
Quillaia extract
What the research shows
Not enough
published research on this page yet
An extract from the bark of the soapbark tree.
It adds foam to soft drinks and helps hold moisture in baked goods.1
- Vegan
- Vegetarian
- EU permitted
What research says
Study type not stated
-
Concern
Daily intake limits in children2
Quillaia extract in food supplements could push children past the daily amount experts consider acceptable.
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.
What expert reviews concluded
Expert panels that weigh all the research. Shown for context: the signal at the top does not count them.
-
UN and WHO food additive experts (JECFA), 2003
Reviewed its safety in 2003.
Regulatory status
Checked Sep 2026-
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 · Other Accepted Uses
Status reflects the named register on the date checked. It is not a safety rating. A country appears here once we've found this ingredient on its official list.
How we checkProducts
The 6 most-scanned of 125 products on Open Food Facts that list quillaia extract.
- ROOT BEER A&W · 355 ml 3 additives
- ROOT BEER A&W · 500 mL 6 additives
- Root Beer A&W 5 additives
- Root beer amber bottles sprechen sie deutsch wisconsin Sprecher Brewing Company Inc. · 7 oz 4 additives
- Root Beer A&W · 20 oz 3 additives
- Zero Sugar Root Beer A&W · 2 litres 6 additives
References
- 1Quillaia. Wikipedia. Accessed September 26, 2026. CC BY-SA 4.0.
- 2Younes M, Aquilina G, Castle L, et al. Follow-up of the re-evaluation of quillaia extract (E 999) as a food additive and safety of the proposed extension of uses. EFSA J. 2024;22(2):e8563. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2024.8563