Polyoxyethylene 40 Stearate
The short version
A 40-EO PEG-stearate — a higher-HLB ethoxylated emulsifier for clear-aqueous applications.
It's widely considered safe at the amounts used in food, so we mark it green. The Safety section below has the details.
Where it comes from
Manufactured by ethoxylating stearic acid with 40 ethylene-oxide units. The longer EO chain gives higher water solubility than the 8-EO form (E430).
How it's used
Used in beverage emulsions, supplements, and pharmaceutical creams where high water solubility and o/w emulsion stabilization matter. Less common than the polysorbates in food but specifically chosen for clear-aqueous applications.
Safety profile
ADI of 0–25 mg/kg body weight (combined polyoxyethylene-stearate emulsifiers). Hydrolyzed in digestion to fatty acids and PEG fragments — PEG fragments largely excreted unchanged.
Physical & chemical properties
Cream-colored to white waxy solid. Soluble in water (more soluble than E430 because of the longer EO chain).
Regulation worldwide
Permitted in the US and most non-EU jurisdictions. EU permission is restricted to specific bakery and supplement applications.
Educational information only. Not medical or dietary advice.