Comparing E435 - Polyoxyethylene sorbitan monostearate vs E491 - Sorbitan monostearate
Overview
Synonyms
Products
Found in 5,912 products
Found in 2,328 products
Search rank & volume
Awareness score
Search volume over time
Interest over time for 3 keywords in U.S. during the last 10 years.
Interest over time for 2 keywords in U.S. during the last 10 years.
Popular questions
Is polysorbate 60 safe to eat?
Yes—polysorbate 60 (E435) is approved as a food additive and considered safe at permitted levels; regulators have set an acceptable daily intake and typical exposure is well below it.
Is polysorbate 60 toxic?
It isn’t considered toxic at food-use levels; very high doses in studies can cause gastrointestinal effects, and rare hypersensitivity reactions are mostly linked to medical (injectable) use rather than foods.
Is polysorbate 60 bad for you?
For most people, no—consumption within regulatory limits isn’t associated with harm, though those avoiding synthetic emulsifiers or who are sensitive may choose to limit it.
Is polysorbate 60 a dye?
No—it's an emulsifier and stabiliser used to help oil and water mix and improve texture, not a colorant.
Is polysorbate 60 natural?
No—it’s a synthetic emulsifier made by reacting sorbitan and stearic acid with ethylene oxide; the stearic acid can be from plant or animal sources.
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.