Comparing E322 - Lecithins vs E491 - Sorbitan monostearate
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Found in 64,937 products
Found in 2,328 products
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Interest over time for 3 keywords in U.S. during the last 10 years.
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Popular questions
Are lecithins bad for you?
No—lecithins (E322) are widely used emulsifiers and are generally recognized as safe at normal food levels; sensitive individuals should note potential soy or egg origins, and very high supplemental doses may cause mild digestive upset.
What are soya lecithins?
Soya lecithin is lecithin (E322) extracted from soybeans—a mixture of phospholipids used to emulsify and stabilize foods like chocolate, margarine, and baked goods; it contains only trace soy proteins but is still labeled for allergens.
What is soya lecithins?
Soya (soy) lecithin is the soybean-derived form of lecithin (E322), a blend of phospholipids used as an emulsifier, stabilizer, and release agent in many processed foods.
Ammonium phosphatides in what products?
While not E322, ammonium phosphatides (E442) are a related emulsifier commonly used in chocolate and confectionery, spreads, and some bakery coatings as an alternative to lecithin to improve flow and texture.
Compound 1 is a member of which class of lipid molecules phosphatides?
Lecithins (E322) are phosphatides—specifically glycerophospholipids such as phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine.
Is sorbitan monostearate safe?
Yes—E491 is an approved food emulsifier; EFSA set a group ADI of 10 mg/kg body weight per day (expressed as sorbitan) for sorbitan esters, and it’s considered safe at permitted use levels.
Is sorbitan monostearate vegan?
Not always—the stearic acid can be sourced from either vegetable oils or animal fat, so vegan status depends on the supplier; check with the manufacturer for plant-derived sources.
What is sorbitan monostearate made from?
It’s an ester of sorbitan (from dehydrated sorbitol) and stearic acid, which can come from vegetable oils (e.g., palm/soy) or animal fat (tallow).
E491 what is it made from?
E491 is produced by reacting sorbitan (derived from sorbitol) with stearic acid; the stearic acid may be plant- or animal-derived.
How is sorbitan monostearate and sorbitan tristearate different?
Sorbitan monostearate (E491) has one stearic acid group, while sorbitan tristearate (E492) has three. The tri-ester is more lipophilic (lower HLB) and is used for stronger water-in-oil emulsification and fat crystal control compared with the mono-ester.