Sorbitan Esters
E491–E495
E491, E492, E493, E494, E495, sorbitan monostearate, sorbitan tristearate, sorbitan monolaurate, sorbitan monooleate, sorbitan monopalmitate, sorbitan esters
What it is
A family of emulsifiers made by combining sorbitan with different fatty acids, identified as E491–E495.
Why BOTIA flags it
Sorbitan esters keep fat and water mixed and are used in baked goods, ice cream and coatings. In 2026 JECFA withdrew the permanent group ADI they had and replaced it with a temporary one of the same value, 0–25 mg/kg body weight: there are indications of genotoxicity in one of them, sorbitan monostearate, that remain unresolved. This is an open evaluation, not a conclusion.
BOTIA CAN
- Detect E491–E495 and the corresponding sorbitan ester names.
- Explain that JECFA replaced the permanent group ADI with a temporary 0–25 mg/kg body-weight limit in 2026 because the genotoxicity question for sorbitan monostearate remains unresolved.
BOTIA CANNOT
- Determine how much sorbitan ester is present in a product from the ingredient list.
- Treat unresolved genotoxicity evidence as proof that a declared amount of a sorbitan ester causes harm.