YenzoWhich foods contain bulking agents?
The source Yenzo cites for this group only defines the function and does not list specific foods, so Yenzo gives no list here. Each code in the group has its own page; see the page of that code.
Bulking agents in food
Bulking agents are substances that contribute to the volume of a foodstuff without contributing significantly to its available energy value. They are added to food for that purpose. This definition follows Annex I of Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of the European Union.
Vietnam regulates additives through a list of permitted additives (Circular 24/2019/TT-BYT, referencing international Codex standards); a substance not on the list is not permitted in Vietnam, and that is the first tier of the Yenzo Scale — see how levels are set.
Bulking agents: very low risk
Very low risk: no concern at the levels used in food. How we score →
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Fun fact. Polydextrose, a bulking agent, is synthesized from three ingredients: D-glucose, sorbitol and citric acid, at a ratio of 89:10:1. In developed countries it has been used since 1980 in the food industry as a bulking agent and a low-energy ingredient, replacing sugar and fat. China introduced and began to synthesize this product in 2000. In 2020 China produced 101,000 tons of polydextrose, and production in 2026 is expected to reach 135,000 tons. Of the total use of polydextrose in China, health foods account for 39%, beverages 21.6%, fermented dairy products 16.6% and baked foods 11.8%. Source: Polydextrose Addition Improves the Chewiness and Extended Shelf-Life of Chinese Steamed Bread Through the Formation of a Sticky, Elastic Network Structure (Gels, 2025)
Frequently asked questions about bulking agents
How can I recognise bulking agents on a label?
Labels usually write the group name with the INS number, for example “bulking agent (1200)”. A label may also write the E code, the INS code or the name of the substance. The same substance can be written in different ways.
Which bulking agents are the most common?
Yenzo does not rank codes. Some codes of this group have a page on Yenzo: E1200 (polydextrose), E460 (cellulose), E420 (sorbitol), E965 (maltitol). Each of them has a row in Appendix 1 of Circular 24/2019/TT-BYT with the function “chất độn” (bulking agent).
Other categories
PreservativesColoursSweetenersFlavour enhancersEmulsifiersThickenersAntioxidantsAcidity regulatorsAnticaking agentsGlazing agentsStabilizersGelling agentsSequestrantsFlour treatment agentsHumectantsCarriersColour retention agentsFirming agentsEmulsifying saltsFoaming agentsRaising agentsPackaging gasesPropellantsAntifoaming agentsBleaching agentsCarbonating agentsFlavourings