E270Lactic acid

E270 is lactic acid, the acid behind the sour taste of yoghurt and pickles, usually made by fermenting sugar. In food it is used to adjust acidity.

Code: E270 · INS 270
Group: Acidity regulator

In Vietnam✓ PermittedOn the list of permitted additives — Circular 24/2019, Appendix 1

Risk level on the Yenzo Scalevery low?Based on the Open Food Facts additives taxonomy

How E270 appears on labels

IngredientsIllustrative example

Wheat flour, vegetable oil, salt, sugar, acidity regulator (270), dried onion and garlic, pepper, natural colour (160a).

acidity regulator (270)acidity regulator 270E270INS 270On Vietnamese labels: Acid lactic (L-, D-và DL-)

Lactic acid in food

Milk, cheese, cream

Processed fruit and vegetables

Confectionery Baked goods

Pasta, breakfast cereals

Processed meat Processed and canned fish and seafood Seasonings, vinegar, sauces

Flavoured drinks, beer, wine

Questions about lactic acid

What is E270 (lactic acid)?

It is lactic acid (L-, D- and DL-). Circular 24/2019/TT-BYT lists E270 as an acidity regulator.

Is lactic acid harmful?

The JECFA database (the FAO/WHO expert committee) records an ADI of “not limited” for lactic acid since 1973; in 2001 JECFA noted no safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agent.

Is E270 permitted in Vietnam?

Yes. Lactic acid, L-, D- and DL- (INS 270) is listed in Appendix 1 of Circular 24/2019/TT-BYT, the list of additives permitted in food, as an acidity regulator.

Can children and pregnant women have lactic acid?

Circular 24/2019/TT-BYT permits lactic acid in infant formula for children up to 12 months and for children aged 6–36 months, at good manufacturing practice, only in ready-to-eat products and only as the L(+) form. In complementary foods for children up to 36 months the maximum is 2000 mg/kg, again only as L(+). The text does not mention pregnant women separately.

Other acidity regulators

E260Acetic acidvery low E261Potassium acetatesvery low E262Sodium acetatesvery low E263Calcium acetatevery low E264Ammonium acetatevery low E296Malic acidvery low

See all acidity regulators →

Found in these products

Khoai tây chiên Pringles vị kem chua hành (sour cream & onion)Pringles · snacks

Sốt pesto húng quế Saclà (basil pesto)Saclà · sauces and dips

Bánh mì kẹp phô mai Staff (cheese sandwich bread)Staff · bread

Sốt mayonnaise SimplySimply · sauces and dips

Updated 21 October 2026

How Yenzo scores

Sources (3)

Open Food Facts additives taxonomy (Yenzo's table cites no EFSA opinion for this code). Open Food Facts additives taxonomy, https://github.com/openfoodfacts/openfoodfacts-server/blob/main/taxonomies/additives.txt (entry en:e270)
Thông tư 24/2019/TT-BYT (văn bản hợp nhất 09/VBHN-BYT), Phụ lục 2A (acid lactic, INS 270; nhóm 13.1.1–13.1.3 và 13.2; ghi chú 72, 83)
JECFA (FAO/WHO) evaluation database: Lactic acid, INS 270

Information only, not medical advice. The risk level is the additive's class in Yenzo's open scoring method, based on the cited source.