YenzoWhat is E426 (soybean hemicellulose)?
It is soybean hemicellulose, the additive with the code E 426. EFSA re-evaluated it in 2017.
E426Soybean hemicellulose
E426 is soybean hemicellulose, number 426 in the Codex International Numbering System (INS) for food additives.
Did you know? Soy fibre is a mixture of structural components of the internal cell wall of soybeans, mostly non-cellulosic; soybean hemicellulose (E 426) is extracted from it.
- Code
- E426 · INS 426
- Group
- Emulsifier, Stabilizer, Thickener
In VietnamNot on Vietnam's list of permitted additivesNot on Vietnam's list of permitted additives (Circular 24/2019); it may be used only in a product whose declaration is registered with the Vietnam Food Administration
Risk level on the Yenzo Scalelow?Based on the Open Food Facts additives taxonomy
How E426 appears on labels
IngredientsIllustrative example
Wheat flour, vegetable oil, salt, sugar, emulsifier (426), dried onion and garlic, pepper, natural colour (160a).
emulsifier (426)emulsifier 426E426INS 426
Questions about soybean hemicellulose
Is soybean hemicellulose harmful?
In 2017 EFSA concluded that it is very unlikely that there is a safety concern from the current use of soybean hemicellulose (E 426) as a food additive, and that there is no need for a numerical ADI. Industry provided no information on actual use, so EFSA considered it likely that actual dietary exposure would be negligible. EFSA recommended that consumers be informed of the presence of potentially allergenic proteins in the additive.
Is INS 426 permitted in Vietnam?
Appendix 1 of Circular 24/2019/TT-BYT (the list of additives permitted in food) has no row for INS 426, and Appendix 2B has none either. This page therefore gives no status for E426 in Vietnam.
Other emulsifiers
E416Karaya gumlowE427Cassia gumlowE432Polysorbate 20lowE433Polysorbate 80lowE434Polysorbate 40lowE435Polysorbate 60low
See all emulsifiers →Updated 21 October 2026
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:e426)
- Thông tư 24/2019/TT-BYT (văn bản hợp nhất 09/VBHN-BYT), Phụ lục 1
- EFSA Journal (2017). Re-evaluation of soybean hemicellulose (E 426) as a food additive