Sorbitan Monostearate(E491)
Level 3 — ContestedIn Winter's Dictionary2 sources
Sorbitan Monostearate is a emulsifier — Emulsifier, defoamer, flavor-dispersing additive
What it does
Emulsifier, defoamer, flavor-dispersing additive
Where you'll see it
cakes, whipped vegetable-oil toppings, coffee whiteners, cake icings
What the research says
[ultra-processed-people] Named alongside glycerol stearate and carrageenans as a commonly used emulsifier shown in human studies to alter overall levels of beneficial gut bacteria.
Regulatory status
- EU: approved
Sources
- Ultra-Processed People (van Tulleken) — Chapter 14: Additive anxiety: glycerol stearate, sorbitan monostearate, and carrageenans, have been shown to alter overall levels of beneficial bacteria
- A Consumer's Dictionary of Food Additives (Winter): an emulsifier, defoamer, and flavor-dispersing additive used in cakes and cake mixes