Food additive databaseemulsifierChecked 2026-10-02

Vegetable lecithin 植物レシチン

Existing food additivePermitted in the EU (E322)

Purpose: emulsifier
On the label: “乳化剤” (emulsifier), “レシチン” (lecithin), “植物レシチン” (vegetable lecithin)
Name in the List of Existing Food Additives: 植物レシチン (No. 153)
Source and production: Separated from the fats and oils obtained from the seeds of rape (“アブラナ”) or soybean. The main component is lecithin.

In Japan

An emulsifier whose main component is lecithin, separated from the fats and oils obtained from the seeds of rape (rapeseed) or soybean.
It falls within the range of the group name for emulsifiers, and when used for emulsification it can be labeled simply as “乳化剤” (emulsifier). When written by substance name, the other name “レシチン” (lecithin) can also be used.
Lecithin obtained from sunflower seeds is treated separately as the designated additive “ヒマワリレシチン” (sunflower 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 “lecithin” (E322) regardless of origin.

When it is labeled under a shared name

Vegetable 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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