E491 — Sorbitan monostearate
E491 (Sorbitan monostearate) appears in the ingredient lists of 55 products sold in the United Kingdom. Function: emulsifier.
Nutri-Score
40 rated products
Median values
| Energy | 411 kcal |
| Sugars | 36.5 g |
| Saturates | 6.1 g |
| Salt | 0.39 g |
Categories
Status in the United States (FDA)
Listed in the FDA inventory “Substances Added to Food”, with the regulations 21 CFR 73.1001, 172.515, 172.836, 172.838, 172.840, 172.842, 173.310, 173.340.
Technical effects listed by the FDA: emulsifier or emulsifier salt, flavoring agent or adjuvant, processing aid, solvent or vehicle, stabilizer or thickener, surface-active agent, surface-finishing agent
The inventory is a partial list, and a listing is not an FDA approval of every use; the regulations set the permitted uses.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Substances Added to Food (updated 9/8/2026), public domain · CAS 1338-41-6 via Wikidata (CC0)
Products containing it, by country
Products listing this additive in each country edition of Shelfpedia (Open Food Facts data)
| Country | Products |
|---|---|
| United States | 2,268 |
| France | 150 |
| United Kingdom | 55 |
| Canada | 44 |
| Germany | 43 |
| Spain | 30 |
| India | 21 |
| Hong Kong SAR China | 18 |
| Australia | 14 |
| Switzerland | 10 |
| Belgium | 9 |
| Martinique | 7 |
| Réunion | 7 |
| Singapore | 6 |
| Italy | 6 |
| Ireland | 5 |
| Finland | 5 |
| Netherlands | 5 |
| Portugal | 5 |
Products
55 products, most viewed first · page 1 of 2.
Source: Open Food Facts export of 23 October 2026, ODbL · Shelfpedia calculations (medians, distributions).