Sorbitan Monostearate
The short version
A low-HLB sorbitan-based emulsifier (Span 60) — common in cake mixes and chocolate confectionery.
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
EFSA (2017) set a group ADI of 10 mg/kg body weight per day for sorbitan esters (E 491–495), expressed as sorbitan (equivalent to 26 mg sorbitan monostearate/kg bw per day). In 2026 JECFA withdrew its earlier group ADI of 0–25 mg/kg bw and set a temporary group ADI of 0–25 mg/kg bw, pending further data on possible genotoxicity of sorbitan monostearate. After ingestion it is partly hydrolysed to stearic acid and sorbitol anhydrides (sorbitan), which are excreted in urine or exhaled as CO2; part is excreted intact in the faeces (EFSA 2017). No specific adverse effects at use levels.
Sources
- EFSA ANS Panel — Re-evaluation of sorbitan monostearate (E 491), sorbitan tristearate (E 492), sorbitan monolaurate (E 493), sorbitan monooleate (E 494) and sorbitan monopalmitate (E 495) when used as food additives, EFSA Journal 2017;15(5):4788, doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2017.4788 — EFSA (via PubMed Central), 2017. EFSA group ADI 10 mg/kg bw/day (as sorbitan); metabolism
- WHO JECFA database — Sorbitan monostearate, INS 491 (evaluation 2026, 102nd meeting) — World Health Organization / JECFA, 2026. JECFA withdrew 0–25 mg/kg bw group ADI and set a temporary group ADI
- US eCFR — 21 CFR 172.842 Sorbitan monostearate — US FDA / Office of the Federal Register (eCFR), 2026. US authorisation with per-food maximum levels
- European Commission food additives database — Sorbitan esters, E 491–495 (Union list group) — European Commission, DG SANTE, 2026. EU maximum levels per food category
Checked against these sources on .
Educational information only. Not medical, dietary or veterinary advice. Spotted an error? Tell us.