Food additive databaseemulsifierChecked 2026-10-02

Enzymatically Modified Lecithin 酵素処理レシチン

Existing food additiveNot on the EU additive list

Purpose: emulsifier
On the label: “乳化剤” (emulsifier), “酵素処理レシチン” (enzymatically modified lecithin), “レシチン” (lecithin)
Name in the List of Existing Food Additives: 酵素処理レシチン (No. 119)
Source and production: Obtained from plant lecithin (from seeds of rape or soybean) or egg yolk lecithin, with phosphatidylglycerol as the main component. They are called “酵素処理レシチン（植物）” (enzymatically modified lecithin (plant)) and “酵素処理レシチン（卵黄）” (enzymatically modified lecithin (egg yolk)), respectively.

In Japan

An emulsifier obtained from plant (rape, soybean) or egg yolk lecithin, with phosphatidylglycerol as the main component (definition in the Japanese Standards of Food Additives). There are no standards for use.
It falls within the group name “乳化剤” (emulsifier), and when used for emulsification it can be written simply as “乳化剤”. 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 not on the EU list of food additives (Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II), so it cannot be used as a food additive in the EU.

When it is labeled under a shared name

Enzymatically Modified 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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