E420 - Sorbitol

Humectants attract and hold water, which keeps biscuits, cakes, dried fruit and pet food from drying out. The main ones are glycerol (E422) and sorbitol (E420). Humectants raise few flagged safety concerns at typical food intakes, though the sugar alcohols (sorbitol, mannitol, maltitol) can have a laxative effect at higher doses.