Is E491 halal?

What is E491?

Sorbitan monostearate is an emulsifier made by reacting sorbitol, a sugar alcohol made from maize or tapioca glucose, with stearic acid. During the reaction the sorbitol loses some water and forms sorbitan, which carries the fatty acid. It is a waxy, cream-coloured solid.

Why it's marked “Depends on the source”

The sorbitol part is plant-based. The stearic acid can come from vegetable or animal fat; EFSA's 2017 review noted that vegetable sources are the most used, but animal sources are not excluded and the label does not say which was chosen.

How to check the label

Look for “vegetable origin” or a halal certificate. Dry baking yeast is a common place to find E491, and halal-certified yeast confirms the source for you.

Where you'll find it

• active dry yeast
• cake decorations and fillings
• desserts
• food supplements

Good to know

• In 2017 EFSA set a group ADI of 10 mg per kg body weight per day, expressed as sorbitan, for the sorbitan esters E491–E495.
• EU rules allow sorbitan esters (E491–E495) in dry yeast and yeast for baking without a numerical maximum level.

Similar additives

• Emulsifiers Depends on the source
• E433 Polysorbate 80 Depends on the source
• E470a Salts of fatty acids Depends on the source
• E471 Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids Depends on the source
• E472 Esters of mono- and diglycerides (E472a–f) Depends on the source
• E472e DATEM (diacetyl tartaric esters of mono- and diglycerides) Depends on the source

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

1. EFSA re-evaluation of sorbitan esters E491–E495 (2017)
2. EU specifications for food additives, Regulation (EU) No 231/2012
3. US 21 CFR 172.842, sorbitan monostearate

Frequently asked questions