Food additive databaseemulsifierChecked 2026-10-02

Enzymatically Decomposed Lecithin 酵素分解レシチン

Existing food additivePermitted in the EU (E322)

Purpose: emulsifier
On the label: “乳化剤” (emulsifier) (group name), “レシチン” (lecithin), “酵素分解レシチン” (enzymatically decomposed lecithin)
Name in the List of Existing Food Additives: 酵素分解レシチン (No. 122)
Source and production: Obtained from plant lecithin (from seeds of rape or soybean) or egg yolk lecithin (from egg yolk). The main components are phosphatidic acid and lysolecithin.

In Japan

An emulsifier made from plant lecithin (rape, soybean) or egg yolk lecithin, with phosphatidic acid and lysolecithin as the main components. There are enzymatically decomposed plant lecithin and enzymatically decomposed egg yolk lecithin (Japanese Standards of Food Additives). There are no standards for use.
When used for emulsification, it can be written under the group name “乳化剤” (emulsifier). When written by substance name, the simplified name is “レシチン” (lecithin).

Japan's standards for use

There are no standards for use that limit which foods or how much (the general standards for all additives still apply).

This is a summary of the standards for use. See the source list for the exact conditions.

In the EU

It is on the EU list of food additives (Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II) as E322.
The EU specification for “lecithin” (E322) states that it also includes hydrolyzed products obtained with harmless and appropriate enzymes (Regulation (EU) No 231/2012).

When it is labeled under a shared name

Enzymatically Decomposed Lecithin may be declared on the label in the same way as “乳化剤”. See Emulsifier for details.

Sources

Checked 2026-10-02. Rules and evaluations change over time. This page is a translation of our Japanese page; if they differ, the Japanese page is the reference.

This page lists facts stated in laws and in evaluations by public bodies; it is not a safety verdict. Additives used in Japan are approved by the government, which sets the foods and amounts they can be used in. The ADI is a guide to the amount that is considered safe to take every day over a lifetime.

Other substances used as emulsifier

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