Comparing E260 - Acetic acid vs E472A - Acetic acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids

Overview

E260 - Acetic acid

Acetic acid (E260) is the sharp-tasting organic acid that gives vinegar its sour flavor and smell. In food, it is used mainly to acidify and preserve products like pickles and sauces, and it appears on labels as acetic acid, E260, or vinegar. Regulators in the U.S. and EU consider it safe when used as intended.

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E472A - Acetic acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids

Acetic acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids (E472a) are food-grade emulsifiers made by attaching small “acetyl” groups to glycerides from edible fats and oils. They help oil and water mix, keep textures stable, and improve freshness in many baked and creamy foods. They are approved in the EU and permitted in the US under specific conditions for use in food.

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Synonyms
E260
Acetic acid
ethanoic acid
E472a
Acetic acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids
Functions
acidity regulatorpreservative
emulsifierstabilizer
Origins
Microbiological
Synthetic
Plant
Animal
Synthetic
Products

Found in 3,047 products

Found in 12 products

Search rank & volume
#2987.5K / mo🇺🇸U.S.
#53610 / mo🇺🇸U.S.
Awareness score

×4.19
over-aware

×0.38
under-aware

Search volume over time

Interest over time for 3 keywords in U.S. during the last 10 years.

Search history data is not available.

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Popular questions

  1. Is acetic acid a strong acid?

    No—acetic acid (E260) is a weak acid in water (pKa ≈ 4.76), though concentrated (glacial) acetic acid is corrosive.

  2. Is vinegar acetic acid?

    Vinegar is a solution of acetic acid in water (typically about 4–8% acetic acid by volume), not pure acetic acid.

  3. What is acetic acid used for?

    In foods, E260 is used as an acidity regulator, preservative, and flavoring (e.g., pickling, sauces); industrially it’s a precursor to vinyl acetate and cellulose acetate and is used in descaling/cleaning.

  4. Which statement describes the acid found in vinegar acetic acid?

    It is a weak organic acid (ethanoic acid, CH3COOH) that gives vinegar its sour taste and antimicrobial effect; food-grade vinegar contains at least about 4% acetic acid by volume.

  5. Is acetic acid polar?

    Yes—acetic acid is a polar, hydrogen-bonding (protic) molecule due to its carboxyl group, and it mixes well with water and many polar solvents.

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