By Jeanne Yacoubou, MS

Also known as: Span 60, SMS, Sorbitan Stearate, E491, Sorbitan Monooctadecanoate

Commercial source: vegetable (sorbitan: corn, potato, or tapioca starches; monostearate: palm oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil)
Used in: active dry yeast, frozen desserts, ready-to-eat meals, meat substitutes, margarine, chocolate, puddings, imitation whipped cream, icings, baked goods, cake mixes, flavors, human and animal dietary supplements, cosmetics, personal care products, pharmaceuticals, plastics, coatings, pesticides

Used as: emulsifier, texture enhancer, humectant
Definition: Chemically, sorbitan monostearate is an ester formed from a reaction between sorbitol and stearic acid. It is often used with polysorbates in a wide variety of foods.
Classification: Typically Vegan*

*Stearic acid is found in animal fats, but no companies surveyed use it for this ingredient.

Manufacturers:

Guangdong Huana Chemistry Co., Ltd.: “Our sorbitan monostearate is of vegetable origin and no animal or dairy substances is used in the manufacturing process of sorbitan esters and polysorbates…The sorbitol comes from corn, while the stearic acid comes from palm oil. No petrochemicals are involved in production.”

Mohini Organics Pvt. Ltd.: “Our sorbitan monostearate is of plant origin, not synthetic…Stearic acid is from a palm source, and sorbitol is from tapioca.”

Treveni Chemicals Pvt. Ltd.: “Our sorbitan monostearate is 100% plant-derived…it is neither derived from animal or human origin nor manufactured utilizing melamine/intermediates and/or auxiliary agents which are of animal or human origin.”

Lasenor: “Sorbitol is produced by hydrogenating glucose, which can come from plant sources such as corn starch or other plant-based sugars (like potato starches). In our case, we use wheat…The stearic acid that esterifies sorbitan is a saturated fatty acid that can be sourced from vegetable oils (including palm oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil). While stearic acid can also be derived from other oils or animal fats, we use palm oil as a common source for some of our products because it…can be processed to extract stearic acid.”

Additional Information:

• Sorbitan monostearate does not have GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) status by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration like many food ingredients have, but it is permitted by the FDA for food use.
• Lasenor and OU Kosher

For additional ingredient information, see https://www.vrg.org/ingredients/index.php

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The contents of this posting, our website and our other publications, including Vegan Journal, are not intended to provide personal medical advice. Medical advice should be obtained from a qualified health professional. We often depend on product and ingredient information from company statements. It is impossible to be 100% sure about a statement, info can change, people have different views, and mistakes can be made. Please use your best judgment about whether a product is suitable for you. To be sure, do further research or confirmation on your own.