Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids
E471
E471, mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids, glyceryl monostearate, glyceryl monopalmitate, glyceryl monooleate, monostearin, monopalmitin, monoolein, GMS, mono- y diglicéridos de ácidos grasos
What it is
A widely used emulsifier made from glycerol and fatty acids. It helps fat and water stay mixed and is found in products such as sliced bread, margarine, ice cream and baked goods. Its fatty acids may come from plants or from animals, and the label does not name the source.
Why BOTIA flags it
If the source is animal, it may be pork, or an animal not slaughtered according to Islamic rules — the label cannot settle it, only a certificate or the manufacturer can. In the NutriNet-Santé cohort, which followed 92,000 adults for years, those with the highest E471 intake had more cancer diagnoses than those with the lowest: breast cancer in women, prostate cancer in men.
BOTIA CAN
- Detect E471 and its common mono- and diglyceride names on an ingredient list.
- Explain that the fatty-acid source may be plant or animal.
BOTIA CANNOT
- Determine from the name E471 whether the fatty acids came from plant or animal material when the manufacturer does not disclose the source.
- Determine the amount of E471 or the exact mono-/diglyceride composition from the ingredient list.