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E470aEmulsifierLow concern
Salts of Fatty Acids (Na/K/Ca)
In plain words
The short version
Soaps of food-grade fatty acids — anti-caking and emulsifying agents in dry mixes and confectionery.
Why it's green
It's widely considered safe at the amounts used in food, so we mark it green. The Safety section below has the details.
Safety profile
ADI not specified — considered safe. Hydrolyzed in digestion to free fatty acids and mineral ions, both normal dietary components.
The detail
Produced by saponification of vegetable-oil fatty acids with sodium, potassium, or calcium hydroxides. The same chemistry that makes soap — food-grade quality is more rigorously purified.
Used as anti-caking and release agents in dry mixes (powdered sauces, instant beverage powders), tabletting lubricants in pharmaceuticals and confectionery, and as flow modifiers in chewing gum. Calcium stearate is by far the most common form.
White to off-white powder, fine and slightly waxy. Insoluble in water (sodium/potassium forms disperse with soap-like behavior); insoluble in oils. Lubricates dry powders by film-forming on particle surfaces.
Permitted globally without restrictive limits.
Sources
- EFSA ANS Panel — Re-evaluation of sodium, potassium and calcium salts of fatty acids (E 470a) and magnesium salts of fatty acids (E 470b) as food additives (2018) — European Food Safety Authority (EFSA Journal 16(3):5180), via PubMed Central, 2018. safety: no numerical ADI needed; no safety concern
- JECFA — Salts of myristic, palmitic and stearic acids (calcium, potassium, sodium; INS 470(i)), evaluation 1985 — WHO / Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives, 1985. safety: JECFA ADI not specified
- 21 CFR 172.863 — Salts of fatty acids — US eCFR (Office of the Federal Register), 2026. regulation and usage: US permits as binder, emulsifier and anticaking agent under GMP
- Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 on food additives, Annex II Part C, Group I (consolidated text of 18.08.2026) — EUR-Lex, Publications Office of the European Union, 2026. regulation: EU Group I additive at quantum satis
Checked against these sources on .
Educational information only. Not medical, dietary or veterinary advice. Spotted an error? Tell us.