日本語
Food additive databaseemulsifierChecked 2026-10-02

Fractionated lecithin 分別レシチン

Existing food additivePermitted in the EU (E322)
Purpose
emulsifier
On the label
“乳化剤” (emulsifier), “分別レシチン” (fractionated lecithin), “レシチン分別物” (lecithin fraction), “レシチン” (lecithin)
Name in the List of Existing Food Additives
分別レシチン (No. 251)
Source and production
Obtained from “plant lecithin” or “egg yolk lecithin” by extraction at room temperature to warm temperature with methanol, ethanol, aqueous ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, acetone, hexane, or ethyl acetate. The main components are phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol, and sphingomyelin.

In Japan

  • An emulsifier obtained by solvent extraction from plant lecithin or egg yolk lecithin, with phospholipids (such as phosphatidylcholine) as its main components. There are no standards for use.
  • It falls within the scope of the group name for emulsifiers, so when used for emulsification it can be written simply as “乳化剤” (emulsifier). When written by substance name, the alternative names “レシチン分別物” (lecithin fraction) and “レシチン” (lecithin) can also be used.

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.

When it is labeled under a shared name

Fractionated 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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