What is E953?
E953 is Isomalt, a food additive used as a sweetener. Plant-derived sugar alcohol. Not alcohol in the drinking sense.
Also written as: INS 953, E-953, E 953. INS is the international numbering system used outside Europe, including on labels in Asia, Australia and the Middle East.
What to do
No action needed for this additive. Check the rest of the ingredient list, and remember that meat products still need proper halal slaughter.
Is E953 vegetarian or vegan?
Yes. E953 (Isomalt) is normally made from plant, mineral, microbial or synthetic sources, so it is suitable for vegetarians and vegans.
Found in 1 UK product we checked
Why we classify it this way
Halal Plant-derived sugar alcohol. Not alcohol in the drinking sense.
Basis: No concern found. Made from plants, minerals, fermentation or synthesis, or from a permitted animal product. Nothing in normal production raises a pork, alcohol, insect or slaughter question.
No external reference is listed for this record yet.
Classification audited 3 November 2026. It has not been reviewed by a scholar. How classifications work · Suggest a correction
Frequently asked questions
Is E953 halal?
E953 (Isomalt) is halal. Plant-derived sugar alcohol. Not alcohol in the drinking sense.
What is E953 made from?
Made from beet sugar.
What is E953 used for?
E953 is used as a sweetener, typically in diet drinks, sugar-free sweets, chewing gum and yoghurts.
What should I do if a product contains E953?
No action needed for this additive. Check the rest of the ingredient list, and remember that meat products still need proper halal slaughter.
Is E953 vegetarian or vegan?
Yes. E953 (Isomalt) is normally made from plant, mineral, microbial or synthetic sources, so it is suitable for vegetarians and vegans.