Comparing E493 - Sorbitan monolaurate vs E491 - Sorbitan monostearate
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Popular questions
What is poe 80 sorbitan monolaurate?
That name is inconsistent: 'POE 80' typically refers to polysorbate 80 (polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate, E433), not monolaurate; E493 is sorbitan monolaurate (Span 20) without ethoxylation. The ethoxylated monolaurate is polysorbate 20 (E432).
What is polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate?
It’s polysorbate 20 (E432), the ethoxylated form of sorbitan monolaurate; by contrast, E493 is the non‑ethoxylated sorbitan monolaurate (Span 20).
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.