"Sweetener (INS 955, INS 950)." You've seen this line on a diet cola or a sugar-free biscuit and moved on. Fair enough. Nobody memorises INS codes for fun. But these few digits tell you exactly what's sweetening your snack.
INS codes are international numbers for food additives. In India, labels must show each additive's class, such as "sweetener", with its name or INS number. Codes 950–969 are mostly intense sweeteners like sucralose (955) and steviol glycosides (960); 420, 421, 953 and 965–968 are sugar alcohols.
Last updated: November 2026
The problem
"Sugar-free" on the front of a pack says what's missing, not what's been added. The sweetener might be an intense one used in milligrams, or a sugar alcohol used in grams, which can upset your stomach. Without decoding the back, you can't tell.
And in a mithai box, a biscuit packet and a protein bar, the same sweetener can hide behind a number.
Why it happens
What the law asks for
Under FSSAI's Labelling and Display Regulations, additives must be declared by their functional class, such as "sweetener", together with their specific name or recognised INS number, in the ingredient list (FSSAI, 2022). So "Sweetener (955)" and "Sweetener (sucralose)" are both legal.
The codes you'll see most
INS numbers are shared across many countries. Here are the common sweetener codes, as listed in Australia's food code, which uses the same system (FSANZ Schedule 8):
| INS | Name | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 420 | Sorbitol | Sugar alcohol |
| 421 | Mannitol | Sugar alcohol |
| 950 | Acesulfame potassium | Intense sweetener |
| 951 | Aspartame | Intense sweetener |
| 953 | Isomalt | Sugar alcohol |
| 954 | Saccharin | Intense sweetener |
| 955 | Sucralose | Intense sweetener |
| 960 | Steviol glycosides (stevia) | Intense sweetener |
| 961 | Neotame | Intense sweetener |
| 965 | Maltitol | Sugar alcohol |
| 967 | Xylitol | Sugar alcohol |
| 968 | Erythritol | Sugar alcohol |
Monk fruit extract has no INS number in that list, so it appears by name (FSANZ Schedule 8).
The warnings that come with them
FSSAI also requires set statements. Foods with 10% or more polyols must say "Polyols may have laxative effect". Table-top aspartame must carry "Not recommended for phenylketonurics", and acesulfame K and saccharin carry "Not recommended for children" (FSSAI, 2022). Aspartame contains phenylalanine, which people with the inherited condition PKU must avoid (FSANZ).
What to do
- Find the word "sweetener" in the ingredient list. The number or name in brackets is the one to check.
- Sort it: 950s or 960s, or a sugar alcohol? Intense sweeteners are used in tiny amounts. Sugar alcohols are used in bulk and can cause gas or loose stools in larger amounts.
- Read the warning box. A laxative or phenylketonurics statement tells you a lot about what's inside.
- Check the carbohydrate line too. A "sugar-free" mithai can still be rich in refined flour and fat.
Did you know? Sorbitol (INS 420) carries the longest warning: at 10% or more, labels must say it may have a laxative effect, cause bloating and diarrhoea in children, and reduce calcium absorption in post-menopausal women (FSSAI, 2022).
FAQ
What is INS 955 in food?
INS 955 is sucralose, an intense sweetener used in small amounts in drinks, desserts and "sugar-free" products.
Is INS 960 stevia?
Yes. INS 960 is steviol glycosides, the sweet compounds from the stevia leaf. FSSAI has permitted them since 2015 (Business Standard, 2015).
Which INS codes are sugar alcohols?
Common ones are 420 (sorbitol), 421 (mannitol), 953 (isomalt), 965 (maltitol), 967 (xylitol) and 968 (erythritol).
Save this for your next grocery run. Then read sugar-free vs no added sugar and FSSAI's proposed front-of-pack warning label.
This article is for information, not medical advice. If you have diabetes or take medication, talk to your doctor before changing your diet.
Research & References
- Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020 — compendium. FSSAI, 2022. — Supports: additive declaration by class and name/INS; polyol, sorbitol, aspartame, acesulfame K and saccharin statements.
- Food Standards Australia New Zealand. Schedule 8: Food additive names and code numbers. 2024. — Supports: INS code numbers for sweeteners; monk fruit extract has none.
- Food Standards Australia New Zealand. Sweeteners. FSANZ. — Supports: aspartame and phenylalanine/PKU labelling.
- Business Standard. Sweetener stevia clears FSSAI hurdle. 2015. — Supports: FSSAI permitted steviol glycosides in 2015.
- EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings. Re-evaluation of erythritol (E 968) as a food additive. EFSA Journal, 2023. — Supports: sugar alcohols' laxative effect.
