Food additive databaseemulsifierChecked 2026-10-02

Sunflower Lecithin ヒマワリレシチン

Designated additivePermitted in the EU (E322)

Purpose: emulsifier
On the label: “乳化剤” (emulsifier), “レシチン” (lecithin), “ヒマワリレシチン” (sunflower lecithin)
Name in the List of Designated Additives: ヒマワリレシチン (No. 333)

In Japan

An emulsifier obtained from sunflower seeds, with phospholipids as its main component.
“Plant lecithin” (植物レシチン), an existing food additive, is defined as being obtained from rapeseed or soybean seeds, and the sunflower-derived one is handled separately as the designated additive “ヒマワリレシチン” (sunflower lecithin).
It falls within the group name for emulsifiers, and when used for emulsifying it can be written simply as “乳化剤” (emulsifier). The short name when written by substance 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.
In the EU, it is permitted as “lecithins” (E322), regardless of source.

When it is labeled under a shared name

Sunflower 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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