E481 — Sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate
E481 (Sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate) appears in the ingredient lists of 6,335 products sold in the United States. Function: emulsifier, stabilizer.
Nutri-Score
5,444 rated products
Median values
| Calories | 321 kcal |
| Sugars | 18.1 g |
| Saturated fat | 3.2 g |
| Salt | 0.97 g |
Categories
- Cakes1,508
- Breads1,150
- Pastries437
- Creamer285
- Frozen foods215
- Desserts172
- Biscuits160
- Cake mixes137
Status in the United States (FDA)
Listed in the FDA inventory “Substances Added to Food”, with the regulations 21 CFR 172.846.
Technical effects listed by the FDA: dough strengthener, emulsifier or emulsifier salt, firming agent, flour treating agent, oxidizing or reducing agent, stabilizer or thickener, surface-active 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 25383-99-7 via Wikidata (CC0)
Products containing it, by country
Products listing this additive in each country edition of Shelfpedia (Open Food Facts data)
Products
6,335 products, most viewed first · page 1 of 132.
Source: Open Food Facts export of November 1, 2026, ODbL, and USDA FoodData Central, October 2026 release, CC0 · Shelfpedia calculations (medians, distributions).