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Polysorbate 60
Polysorbate 60
Polysorbate 60
What is it:
Polysorbate 60 is an emulsifier and surfactant commonly used in the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. It is commonly used in the production of processed foods, such as baked goods, dairy products, dressings, and sauces, as well as in cosmetics, personal care products, and pharmaceutical formulations. It is produced through a chemical process involving the esterification of sorbitol (a sugar alcohol derived from corn or sorghum) with stearic acid (a fatty acid usually sourced from vegetable oils).
Rating:
Polysorbate 60 is a non-naturally occurring ingredient that may be derived from corn and vegetable oils. Polysorbates in some animal studies have been shown to enhance the activity of chemical carcinogens while not actually being considered carcinogenic. Caution is warranted with the use of Polysorbate 60, since there is limited data available on it, however, none have shown negative health effects in humans.
Resources:
- FDA approves Polysorbate 60 in 1977
- Polysorbates may have some tumor-enhancing effects in rats (review of animal studies)
- Polysorbate 60 may affect intestinal permeability of rats (animal study)
How we rate ingredients
Health is like a bank account, certain ingredients make a deposit into your health bank, meaning they add to
your health. Certain ingredients withdraw from your health bank. We want health promoting ingredients in our diet. To keep things simple, we rate ingredients on a green, yellow, red scale:
Clean
It is naturally occurring in food and has no harmful effects on the body. It is real food. It is health promoting.
Caution
It goes into one or more of the below categories
- It is not naturally occurring in food but doesn’t have data showing it has a harmful effect on the body (additives like Gellan Gum)
- It is naturally occurring but can have some harmful effects on the body (added sugars, oils, gums etc.)
We Avoid
It is known to have a harmful effect on the body (ex. All food colorings, Natural Flavors, MSG, Potassium bromate, aspartame, artificial flavors)
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