Depends on the source
- Usually made from
- Animal or plant fats
- Used as
- emulsifier
- Vegan
- Depends on the source
Plant-based versions are common. Look for “vegetable origin” or a halal certificate.
What is E473?
Sucrose esters are emulsifiers made by joining ordinary sugar (sucrose) to fatty acids. Manufacturers react sucrose with methyl or ethyl esters of food fatty acids, or extract the esters from sucroglycerides, using approved solvents such as ethyl acetate that are removed afterwards.
Why it's marked “Depends on the source”
The sugar part is plant-based, but the fatty acids can come from vegetable oils or from animal fats. When the EU's Scientific Committee for Food assessed sucrose esters in 1992, it covered esters made from palm oil, lard and tallow fatty acids. The label does not show which was used.
How to check the label
Look for “vegetable origin” or a halal certificate. If the label lists only E473 or sucrose esters of fatty acids, ask the manufacturer which fat the fatty acids came from.
Where you'll find it
- chewing gum
- chewy sweets
- cereal bars
- cakes and pastries
Good to know
- E473 shares a group ADI of 40 mg per kg body weight per day with sucroglycerides (E474), set by EFSA in 2004.
- In 2023 EFSA found that estimated intakes exceeded this group ADI for many population groups, based on updated use levels.
- In EU product data, chewing gum had the highest share of products labelled with E473, about 12 percent.
Similar additives
See all 89 E-numbers in the halal checker
This list describes where additives usually come from. It isn't a religious ruling, and manufacturers can change their sources. Last reviewed: 14 October 2026.
Sources
- EFSA follow-up on sucrose esters E473 (2023)
- EU specifications for food additives, Regulation (EU) No 231/2012
- US 21 CFR 172.859, sucrose fatty acid esters
Frequently asked questions
Is E473 halal?
Depends on the source. The sugar part is plant-based, but the fatty acids can come from vegetable oils or from animal fats. When the EU's Scientific Committee for Food assessed sucrose esters in 1992, it covered esters made from palm oil, lard and tallow fatty acids. The label does not show which was used.
What is E473 made from?
Sucrose esters are emulsifiers made by joining ordinary sugar (sucrose) to fatty acids. Manufacturers react sucrose with methyl or ethyl esters of food fatty acids, or extract the esters from sucroglycerides, using approved solvents such as ethyl acetate that are removed afterwards.
Is E473 vegan?
It depends on the source. E473 can be made from plant or animal material, so look for a vegan or vegetarian label.