Comparing E481 - Sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate vs E470AIII - Calcium salts of fatty acids

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Overview

E481 - Sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate

Sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate (E481) is a food emulsifier that helps water and fat mix smoothly. Bakers use it to strengthen dough, improve volume and crumb, and keep bread softer for longer. It is authorised for use in both the U.S. and the EU under specific regulations.

E470AIII - Calcium salts of fatty acids

Calcium salts of fatty acids (E470AIII) are common food additives that help ingredients mix, keep textures stable, and stop powders from clumping. You will often see them listed as “calcium stearate” or “calcium palmitate,” and they are used in very small amounts across many foods. Regulators in the U.S. and EU allow their use under good manufacturing practice.

Synonyms

E481

Sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate

Sodium stearoyl lactylate

E470aiii

Calcium salts of fatty acids

Functions

emulsifier stabilizer

anticaking agent emulsifier stabilizer

Origins

Products

Found in 6,552 products

Found in 1 products

Search rank & volume

#2551.7K / mo🇺🇸U.S.

🇺🇸U.S.

Awareness score

×0.04

under-aware

Awareness data is not available.

Search volume over time

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

Search history data is not available.

Popular questions

Is sodium stearoyl lactylate dairy?
No—despite the name, it isn’t a dairy ingredient and contains no milk proteins or lactose; it’s made from lactic acid (from fermentation, not milk) and stearic acid.
Is sodium stearoyl lactylate bad for you?
It’s considered safe at permitted food-use levels by regulators (e.g., FDA and EU), and most people tolerate it well; adverse effects are uncommon at typical dietary intakes.
Is sodium stearoyl lactylate vegan?
Not always—stearic acid can come from either animal fat or vegetable oils, so vegans should verify the source with the manufacturer.
What is sodium stearoyl lactylate made of?
It’s a mixture of sodium salts of stearoyl lactylic acids, produced from lactic acid and stearic acid.
How is sodium stearoyl lactylate made?
It’s made by esterifying stearic acid with lactic acid, then partially neutralizing the product with sodium hydroxide or sodium carbonate to form the sodium salts.