Polysorbate 80 Side Effects

Polysorbate 80 is a emulsifier with 2 high-severity side effects. Found in 9 products in our database. FDA GRAS.

5
Known Side Effects
9
Products Contain It
2
High Severity
4
Safer Alternatives

What Is Polysorbate 80?

Polysorbate 80 is a synthetic emulsifier used in many processed foods and ice cream. Landmark studies in Nature have shown it disrupts the gut barrier and promotes intestinal inflammation.

Also known as:
E433Tween 80Polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate

Known Side Effects

High Risk Gut barrier disruption
High Risk Intestinal inflammation
Moderate Promotes metabolic syndrome in animal studies
Moderate Potential tumor promotion
Moderate Anaphylactic reactions (rare)

Regulatory Status

🇺🇸 FDA Status

FDA GRAS. Used in ice cream, baked goods, and many processed foods.

🇪🇺 EU Status

Legal with limits. Under increased scrutiny after gut barrier studies.

Scientific References

  1. Chassaing et al. (2015) — Nature study showing emulsifiers cause gut inflammation
  2. Studies linking polysorbate 80 to metabolic syndrome in mice
  3. Reports of anaphylaxis from polysorbate 80 in vaccines and medications

Products Containing Polysorbate 80 (9 found)

These products were found to contain polysorbate 80 or its variants in our database of 26,000+ grocery products.

#ProductBrandScore
1EquateUnknown16/100
2Calcium, Magnesium & Zinc Plus Vitamin D3 Dietary SupplementWalmart, Spring Valley24/100
3SAM'S CHOICE, HOT MANGO HABANERO FRESH PACK PICKLE CHIPSWal-Mart Stores, Inc.38/100
4HAMBURGER DILL CHIPS PICKLESWal-Mart Stores, Inc.41/100
5fiber equateWalmart55/100
6MARKET PANTRY, CRISP WHOLE OKRA, MILDTarget Stores68/100
7SAM'S CHOICE, MEDIUM THAI CHILI PICKLE CHIPSWal-Mart Stores, Inc.68/100
8SAM'S CHOICE, CHIPOTLE WITH AGAVE SYRUP PICKLE CHIPS, MILD, MILDWal-Mart Stores, Inc.68/100
9SAM'S CHOICE, HOT SPICY MAPLE BOURBON PICKLE CHIPSWal-Mart Stores, Inc.68/100

Safer Alternatives to Polysorbate 80

Sunflower lecithinAcacia gumLocust bean gumMono/diglycerides from plant sources
📬

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the side effects of polysorbate 80?
Polysorbate 80 has been shown to disrupt the gut barrier, cause intestinal inflammation, promote metabolic syndrome in animals, and in rare cases cause anaphylactic reactions.

⚕️ Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Side effect data is compiled from published scientific studies and regulatory assessments. Always consult your healthcare provider for personalized guidance. Last updated: 2026-03-05.

Other Ingredient Side Effects

Red 40 (Allura Red AC) Yellow 5 (Tartrazine) Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow FCF) Red 3 (Erythrosine) Blue 1 (Brilliant Blue FCF) Blue 2 (Indigo Carmine) Aspartame Sucralose Acesulfame Potassium (Ace-K) MSG (Monosodium Glutamate) All Ingredient Side Effects Banned in Europe Ingredient Encyclopedia
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📋 Cite This Data
APACheckIt AI. (2026). "Polysorbate 80 Side Effects — Health Risks, FDA Status & Products | CheckIt AI". Climaverse PBC. Retrieved from https://getcheck.it/side-effects/polysorbate-80
MLA"Polysorbate 80 Side Effects — Health Risks, FDA Status & Products | CheckIt AI." CheckIt AI, Climaverse PBC, 2026-03-05. https://getcheck.it/side-effects/polysorbate-80.
HTML Embed<a href="https://getcheck.it/side-effects/polysorbate-80">Polysorbate 80 Side Effects — Health Risks, FDA Status & Products | CheckIt AI — CheckIt AI</a>
BibTeX@misc{checkit2026sideeffectspolysorbate80, title = {Polysorbate 80 Side Effects — Health Risks, FDA Status & Products | CheckIt AI}, author = {CheckIt AI}, year = {2026}, publisher = {Climaverse PBC}, url = {https://getcheck.it/side-effects/polysorbate-80}, note = {Retrieved 2026-03-05} }