E-numbers / Other additives / E1204
A natural polysaccharide made by fermenting starch with a fungus, used to form edible films in breath-freshening strips and to coat food supplement capsules.
Scan a barcode to check a food for pullulan. NutraSafe Pro · £3.99/month · iOS
Pullulan is a water-soluble polysaccharide (long-chain sugar molecule) produced when the fungus Aureobasidium pullulans ferments starch.
Pullulan is a water-soluble polysaccharide (long-chain sugar molecule) produced when the fungus Aureobasidium pullulans ferments starch. It forms a clear, tasteless, odourless film and is resistant to oil and grease. It is not chemically modified; it is harvested directly from the fermentation broth and purified.
Pullulan forms thin, flexible, water-soluble films that dissolve quickly on contact with saliva. In breath-freshening microsweets it creates the dissolving strip that delivers the flavour or active ingredient. In food supplements it provides a plant-derived alternative to gelatin capsule shells. It also acts as a film-former and coating agent, protecting tablet surfaces and controlling the release of ingredients.
Found mainly in fast-dissolving breath-freshening oral strips and in vegetarian or vegan capsules for food supplements. Look for it on the label as 'pullulan' or 'E1204' in the ingredients list of supplement capsules and dissolvable film products.
Pullulan is not digested in the small intestine and passes through to the large intestine, where gut bacteria ferment it. Human volunteer studies found that doses of 10 grams a day or more can cause abdominal fullness, flatulence, bloating and cramping. At typical dietary exposures from breath strips this dose is not reached, but heavy users of food supplements at the high end of the intake range may approach it.
Human volunteer studies identified mild gastrointestinal symptoms including abdominal fullness, flatulence, bloating and cramping at pullulan doses of 10g per day and above.
High-exposure individuals consuming food supplements may experience mild gastrointestinal effects at currently reported use levels; no such concern was identified for breath-freshening film uses.
EFSA's 2025 re-evaluation confirmed that pullulan raises no genotoxicity concern, meaning there is no credible evidence it damages DNA. Animal and longer-term studies did not identify organ toxicity at levels relevant to food use. No numerical acceptable daily intake was considered necessary.
EFSA confirmed that pullulan (E 1204) is of no concern for genotoxicity based on available in vitro and in vivo data.
No numerical ADI was set for pullulan; the panel concluded no safety concern exists at currently reported uses and use levels.
People who experience bloating or digestive discomfort from fibre-like compounds may notice symptoms if they consume large quantities of pullulan-containing food supplements daily. No specific population group is required to avoid it under current regulations. Look for 'pullulan' or 'E1204' on supplement capsule labels.
Pullulan is a fermentation-derived carbohydrate with a long history of use in Japan before its EU authorisation. The science around it is straightforward: it behaves like a fermentable dietary fibre, with well-understood gut fermentation and a clear dose threshold for digestive discomfort around 10g a day. The 2025 EFSA re-evaluation, the most thorough to date, found no genotoxicity concern, no organ toxicity at food-relevant levels, and no reason for a numerical ADI. The only real-world consideration is digestive comfort at the high end of supplement use.
No. Pullulan is permitted in the UK under the assimilated EU Regulation 1333/2008. It is authorised in breath-freshening film confectionery and food supplement capsules and tablets, both at quantum satis.
Human volunteer studies found that doses of 10g a day or more can cause bloating, flatulence and abdominal cramping. This dose is not reached from breath strips but may be approached by people taking multiple high-dose supplement capsules daily. At typical exposure levels these effects are not expected.
Currently authorised in fast-dissolving breath-freshening oral strips and in food supplement capsules and tablets. It is not permitted in general foods such as drinks, bread or dairy under current UK/EU rules. EFSA found no safety concern with a proposed extension to many further categories in 2025, but a formal legislative amendment would be required before any new uses become lawful.
Yes. Pullulan is produced by fermenting starch using the fungus Aureobasidium pullulans. No animal-derived ingredients are involved in its production, and it is widely used as a vegan and vegetarian alternative to gelatin in supplement capsules.
Last reviewed: 20 June 2026
It's the only app that does thisUKJaneK
You Need This AppGmac2005
Best AppGK getting skinny UK App Store reviews
NutraSafe reads the label and puts every additive into plain English, with the source, right in the app.
NutraSafe Pro · £3.99/month · iOS
