Sweeteners in ice cream: erythritol, xylitol, stevia and co.

Erythritol, stevia and xylitol often appear on the packaging of “fit” and “keto” ice creams. Each of these sweeteners behaves differently in ice cream and each has its limits. This article summarises what European and international authorities say about them and what that means for homemade ice cream.

First, one important thing: sweetness isn’t everything

Sugar adds solids to ice cream and lowers its freezing point, which is what makes it scoopable (details in the article on reducing sugar). Sweeteners therefore fall into two groups:

• Bulk sweeteners (polyols such as erythritol or xylitol, fibre such as inulin) — add solids, and some also lower the freezing point.
• Intense sweeteners without bulk (stevia, sucralose) — sweeten in small amounts but add neither solids nor softness.

So stevia on its own won’t replace sugar in ice cream. The missing solids have to come from something else.

Sweeteners at a glance

ADI (acceptable daily intake) is the amount that, according to the authorities, can be consumed every day over a lifetime without risk.

Erythritol

In 2023 the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) re-evaluated erythritol and set an ADI of 0.5 g per kilogram of body weight per day. Unusually, the limit is based on an acute effect — diarrhoea. EFSA also estimated that typical exposure exceeds the ADI in all age groups, and did not recommend an exemption from the mandatory laxative-effect warning.

What this means in practice: an adult weighing 70 kg has an ADI of 35 g of erythritol a day. A child weighing 30 kg only 15 g. A large portion of “keto” ice cream sweetened with erythritol can easily approach this limit (zmrzka’s calculation based on the ADI).

Xylitol and dogs

Xylitol is a permitted food additive in the EU. For people, the main risk is its laxative effect. For dogs, however, it is toxic. The US FDA explicitly lists ice cream among products that may contain xylitol. Symptoms of poisoning (hypoglycaemia — a sharp drop in blood sugar) usually appear in a dog within 10–60 minutes, sometimes 12–24 hours later. According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, hypoglycaemia can occur at doses of around 100 mg per kilogram, and at higher doses (around 500 mg/kg) liver failure as well.

Polyols and the mandatory warning

Under Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, a food with more than 10 % added polyols must carry the warning “excessive consumption may produce laxative effects”. The same applies if you make ice cream with erythritol or xylitol at home: in larger amounts, polyols put a strain on digestion. Exact tolerance limits differ between individual polyols, and we have not verified reliable figures for children and adults in primary sources.

Stevia and sucralose

Steviol glycosides have an ADI of 4 mg per kilogram per day (expressed as steviol equivalents). In 2024 EFSA rejected an application to raise it. Sucralose has an ADI of 15 mg/kg, and according to trade media the EU left it unchanged when it was re-evaluated.

Both substances sweeten in tiny amounts, so they add no solids to ice cream. David Lebovitz reports that his egg-based (custard) mix made with a sucralose sweetener separated in the machine — this is personal experience, not a test.

Inulin

Chicory inulin is a dietary fibre. An approved EU health claim applies to its effect (Regulation 2015/2314): it contributes to normal bowel function by increasing stool frequency, at an intake of 12 g per day. In ice cream it adds solids and body. It probably lowers the freezing point only a little, so it won’t soften ice cream on its own.

Allulose: not in the EU

Allulose (D-psicose) is popular in low-sugar ice creams in the USA. In the EU it is an unauthorised novel food. In 2025 the EFSA scientific panel could not confirm its safety because data on production, genotoxicity and from human studies were missing. According to trade sources, further applications are in progress, but as of September 2026 there is no authorisation.

What the WHO says

In 2023 the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended not using non-sugar sweeteners (such as stevia or sucralose) as a means of weight control or of reducing the risk of noncommunicable diseases. According to the WHO, long-term use may not lead to a reduction in body fat, and the data suggest possible undesirable effects. The recommendation does not apply to people with already diagnosed diabetes — they should follow their doctor’s advice.

Summary for homemade ice cream

• Combine non-bulking sweeteners (stevia, sucralose) with something that adds solids.
• Use polyols in moderation and expect a laxative effect.
• Keep xylitol out of reach of dogs.
• Don’t use allulose in the EU.
• “Sugar-free” doesn’t mean calorie-free or automatically healthier.