Polysorbate 60 is a food additive that is used in many foods to keep them from going stale or separating. It is found in a wide range of processed foods and substances.
Polysorbate 60 is not a health supplement, it is used as an emulsifier and as a food additive.
Polysorbate 60 is also used in the cosmetic industry and various pharmaceuticals. It is made from sugar alcohols to produce an oil-like liquid that has many uses and applications.
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How Polysorbate 60 is Made Sorbitol is a sugar alcohol that is found in many fruits. The sorbitol is dehydrated to remove moisture; this forms sorbitan. The sorbitan is converted into an ester by adding the fatty acid, stearic acid; an ester is essentially an oily compound. Ethylene ox... more
Sorbitol is a sugar alcohol that is found in many fruits. The sorbitol is dehydrated to remove moisture; this forms sorbitan.
The sorbitan is converted into an ester by adding the fatty acid, stearic acid; an ester is essentially an oily compound. Ethylene oxide is then added to form the polysorbate.
Polysorbate 60 works as an emulsifier in many foods. An emulsifier is any substance that helps to stabilize ingredients in a mixture.
Stabilization can refer to keeping oils and water-based liquids together, helping ingredients dissolve when added to a liquid, keeping coloring additives consistent throughout the mixture or to keeping foods from releasing moisture that will lead to staleness.
Common food uses of polysorbate 60 include baked goods such as breads or cake mixes, salad dressings, pickle juices, coffee creamers, and artificial whipped cream.
Polysorbate 60 is also a common ingredient in topical creams and moisturizers where it also acts as an emulsifier. It helps to keep ingredients with different levels of water solubility together. This also helps the ingredients to remain in the same proportions throughout the mixture.
Common manufacturer’s names for polysorbate 60 include Alkest tw 60, Canarcel 60 and Tween 60. These products are sold to manufacturers to use in lotions, moisturizers, sun block and sun tan oils, conditioners and other personal care products such as hair dyes.
Polysorbate 60 is likewise a common ingredient in many medicines and medications that require different ingredients to blend together in a consistent way. It is also used in pills and capsules to extend the shelf life of certain medications.
Without polysorbate 60, many medications would not have the same amounts of ingredients from batch to batch or even from one dose to another. It is also used in the manufacturing of synthetic fibers, in the leather industry, in pesticides and in many other industries that require emulsifiers to blend ingredients.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves of polysorbate 60 as a food additive in small amounts.
Various tests and their results related to polysorbate 60 are found on the Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB) hosted by The National Institutes of Health. All topical tests containing polysorbate 60 and related compounds polysorbate 20, polysorbate 40 and polysorbate 80 showed little to no inflammation or other skin damage, even in undiluted, 100% strength amounts.
Animal testing results are also found in the HSDB. They show that there were no reactions to mild irritations recorded when polysorbate 60 was used topically on the skin or even ingested.
When the amount of polysorbate 60 began to reach high levels, especially in the diet, the animals experienced diarrhea, slowed growth, and damage to digestive tissues. The amounts given to animals were well beyond those levels that would be found in any person’s normal diet or beauty care regimen.
A study published on the National Institutes of Health’s PubMed website does point to the possibility of an allergic reaction to polysorbate 80. All of the polysorbates are closely related.
While testing red cell growth hormones, two patients in the study showed adverse reactions. Further tests confirmed that the hypersensitivity was actually to polysorbate 80. Further testing needs to confirm these outcomes, as a wider range of subjects need to be tested.
There are no reported instances of medical conditions created by the use of polysorbate 60, nor are there any reports of medical interactions with polysorbate 60 or other polysorbates.
Polysorbate 60 is not a health supplement or needed as an ingredient in any form of home cooking or baking. It is a food additive that is found in many processed foods and beauty aids.
While the levels of polysorbate 60 found in foods have been tested to ensure safety, it is always a healthy idea to try to consume whole foods such as fruits and vegetables. Limiting processed foods is a good choice for any individual.
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| Possible Allergic Reaction |
| Ethoxylated Sorbitan Monostearate |
| Emulsifier |
| Food Additive |
| Stabilizer |
| Sugar Alcohol |