E322Emulsifier
What Is E322? Lecithins and Where It Is Used
Also known as: Soy lecithin, Sunflower lecithin
E322 is the additive number of lecithins, emulsifiers that keep fat mixed with water or with solid particles. They are used most in chocolate, biscuits, ice cream and margarine.
- In the Besin database
- 1,975 products
- About 16.9 in every 100 products
- Source
- Mostly plant-based
- Acceptable daily intake (ADI)
- No numerical value set
What does E322 do?
In chocolate they adjust how cocoa butter flows, in biscuit and cake dough they help the fat spread, and in ice cream and margarine they stop fat and water from separating.
How is it made?
Mostly obtained from the phospholipids separated while refining soybean, sunflower or rapeseed oil. Lecithin can also be made from egg yolk.
Vegan and halal: Soy and sunflower lecithin suit vegan diets. Lecithin can also come from egg, so check the source on the label.
On the label: Soy lecithin comes from soy, an allergen, so its source must be named on the label (for example "emulsifier (soy lecithin)").
Which products contain E322?
1,975 of the 11,663 packaged products in the Besin database list E322 (Lecithins) in their ingredients. The categories where it appears most often:
- Milk Chocolates226 products
- Single-Serve Ice Cream142 products
- Dark Chocolates129 products
- Cream and Sandwich Biscuits104 products
- Coated and Stick Biscuits102 products
- Wafers90 products
Numbers as of the database snapshot of October 18, 2026.
Official evaluation
EFSA re-evaluated lecithins in 2017 and concluded that there is no need for a numerical ADI and no safety concern for the general population over one year of age at the reported uses. A 2020 follow-up opinion also assessed their use in infant formula.
Food additives are regulated by the EU food additives regulation (Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008) and, in Türkiye, the Turkish Food Codex Regulation on Food Additives (Official Gazette, 30.06.2013, No. 28693). The ADI is the amount estimated to be safe to take every day over a lifetime, given per kilogram of body weight.
Frequently asked questions
Does soy lecithin matter for people with a soy allergy?
Soy lecithin comes from soy, so soy is declared as an allergen on the label. People with an allergy should check the source and talk to their doctor if needed.
Is E322 vegan?
Lecithin from soy, sunflower or rapeseed is vegan. Egg lecithin also exists, so if the label does not say the source, ask the manufacturer.
Which products contain E322 most often?
In the Besin database it appears most often in milk and dark chocolates, single-serve ice creams, cream and coated biscuits, and wafers.
Related additives
Sources
- EFSA (2017): Re-evaluation of lecithins (E322)
- the EU food additives regulation (Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008) and, in Türkiye, the Turkish Food Codex Regulation on Food Additives (Official Gazette, 30.06.2013, No. 28693)
Last reviewed: . This page is for information only and is not medical advice. To report a mistake, write to iletisim@besin.app.