E421 Emulsifier

E421 increases blood glucose to a lesser extent than sucrose (thus having a relatively low glycemic index[19]) so is used as a sweetener for people with diabetes, and in chewing gums. Although E421 has a higher heat of solution than most sugar alcohols, its comparatively low solubility reduces the cooling effect usually found in mint candies and gums. However, when E421 is completely dissolved in a product, it induces a strong cooling effect. Also, it has a very low hygroscopicity – it does not pick up water from the air until the humidity level is 98%. This makes E421 very useful as a coating for hard candies, dried fruits, and chewing gums, and it is often included as an ingredient in candies and chewing gum. The pleasant taste and mouthfeel of E421 also make it a popular excipient for chewable tablets.