E246 - Glycolipids

At a glance

• Function: a surface-active additive that helps protect products from spoilage and keep mixtures uniform
• Typical use: ready-to-drink beverages and other watery foods where yeasts and moulds can grow
• Status: authorised in the EU under the food additives framework
• Label names: “glycolipids” or “E246”
• Source: produced through controlled food-grade manufacturing, then purified before use

Why is Glycolipids added to food?

Food makers use glycolipids because they are amphiphilic, meaning one end of the molecule likes water and the other likes oils. This gives them two useful roles in foods: they can help keep ingredients mixed and they can help protect products from spoilage by microorganisms, especially in high‑moisture products such as soft drinks. In the EU, any additive that carries an E‑number has been assessed for its intended technological functions before approval.¹

What foods contain Glycolipids?

You are most likely to find E246 in:

• Non‑alcoholic beverages and similar ready‑to‑drink products
• Other water‑based foods where maintaining quality and shelf life is important

Exact categories and permitted uses are set in the EU “Union list” of food additives, which lays out where each additive may be used and under what conditions.¹²

What can replace Glycolipids?

Possible alternatives depend on why E246 is being used:

• If the goal is to slow spoilage by yeasts and moulds in drinks, producers may consider approved preservatives such as sorbic acid, potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate, nisin, natamycin, or dimethyl dicarbonate, where allowed.
• If the goal is to stabilise mixtures or improve texture, emulsifiers and gums such as xanthan gum or certain lecithins may be options, depending on the recipe and local rules.

Choice of replacement must follow the same legal limits and be suitable for the specific food.

How is Glycolipids made?

EU specifications describe food additives in detail, including identity and how they are made. Glycolipids placed on the EU market as E246 must meet these purity and composition requirements. In practice, food‑grade glycolipids are produced under controlled manufacturing, and the resulting mixture is purified to remove unwanted residues before use in foods, as set out in the EU specifications legislation for food additives.³

Is Glycolipids safe to eat?

Within the EU system, additives may be used only after a scientific safety evaluation and when their use serves a technological need. The E‑number indicates that E246 has undergone this process and is authorised for defined uses and levels. Ongoing oversight applies: authorised additives remain subject to re‑evaluation and specification updates as new data appear.¹⁴

Does Glycolipids have any benefits?

When used as intended:

• It helps manufacturers maintain consistent quality in watery foods and beverages.
• It can support shelf life by helping control microbial spoilage in suitable products. These benefits let producers use very small amounts to meet a clear technological need, as required by EU law.¹

Who should avoid Glycolipids?

• People following personal or dietary rules that restrict certain additives may choose to avoid it.
• Anyone advised by a healthcare professional to limit specific additives should check labels. There are no general consumer warnings unique to E246 beyond the authorised conditions of use set by EU law.¹

Myths & facts

• “All E‑numbers are artificial.” Not necessarily. E‑numbers simply mean “authorised in the EU” after safety review; some are nature‑derived, some are identical to natural molecules, and some are synthetic.¹
• “If it’s approved, it can be used in any amount.” No. Each additive has specific foods and maximum levels or quantum satis conditions set in the Union list.¹²
• “Additives aren’t checked after approval.” They are. Additives can be re‑evaluated and specifications can be updated as science advances.⁴

Glycolipids in branded foods

On ingredient lists, look for “glycolipids” or “E246.” Placement will vary by recipe. Because regulations limit where and how much may be used, E246 is typically found in specific categories like ready‑to‑drink beverages and other water‑rich foods that benefit from added stability and protection.²

References

Footnotes

1. Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 on food additives — EUR-Lex. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32008R1333 ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷

2. EU list of food additives (Union list) — European Commission. https://food.ec.europa.eu/safety/food-improvement-agents/food-additives/eu-list-food-additives_en ↩ ↩² ↩³

3. Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012 laying down specifications for food additives listed in Annexes II and III to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 — EUR-Lex. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32012R0231 ↩

4. Food additives: EFSA’s role in safety assessments — European Food Safety Authority. https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/topics/topic/food-additives ↩ ↩²