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E493EmulsifierLow concern
Sorbitan Monolaurate
In plain words
The short version
Span 20 — a higher-HLB sorbitan emulsifier for oil-in-water systems and yeast aeration.
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
EFSA (2017) set a group ADI of 10 mg/kg body weight per day, expressed as sorbitan, for sorbitan esters E 491–495. JECFA (2026) kept 0–25 mg/kg body weight only as a temporary group ADI, because it could not yet conclude on genotoxicity. Hydrolyzed in digestion to sorbitol and lauric acid — both normal dietary components.
The detail
Manufactured by esterifying lauric acid with sorbitol; sorbitol partially dehydrates to sorbitan during esterification. The shortest-chain Span (vs. C16 Span 40, C18 Span 60, C18:1 Span 80) — gives the highest HLB (~8.6) of the food sorbitan-esters.
Used in cake mixes for finer cell structure, in active dry yeast as a rehydration aid, in beverage clouding-agent systems, and in some ice cream emulsions. Higher water solubility than the longer-chain Spans expands its range to oil-in-water emulsions.
Amber-colored viscous liquid. More water-dispersible than Span 60 or 80 because of the shorter alkyl chain.
Permitted globally with maximum-use limits per category.
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) (EFSA Journal 2017;15(5):4788) — European Food Safety Authority, 2017. EFSA group ADI of 10 mg/kg bw/day expressed as sorbitan
- JECFA — Sorbitan monolaurate (INS 493), evaluation 2026 (102nd meeting) — Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (WHO), 2026. JECFA group ADI 0–25 mg/kg bw now only temporary
- Commission Regulation (EU) No 1129/2011 — Union list of food additives (Annex II, Part E) — Publications Office of the European Union, 2011. EU: per-category maximum levels for sorbitan esters
Checked against these sources on .
Educational information only. Not medical, dietary or veterinary advice. Spotted an error? Tell us.