E-numbers / Thickeners & emulsifiers / E478
also: Lactylated fatty acid esters of glycerol and propane-1,2-diol · LACTEM
An emulsifier made from fatty acids, lactic acid, glycerol and propylene glycol. Not currently authorised for use in food in the UK or EU.
Scan a barcode to check a food for lactylated fatty acid esters of glycerol and propylene glycol. NutraSafe Pro · £3.99/month · iOS
This additive is not permitted in UK or EU food.
Why it’s worth knowing. This additive is not permitted in UK or EU food. If you see it listed on a product label sold in the UK, that product may not comply with current food additive regulations.
E478 is a mixed ester compound produced by reacting fatty acids (typically from vegetable or animal fats) with lactic acid, glycerol and propylene glycol. The result is a family of surface-active molecules, each with a fat-soluble tail and a water-attracting head, giving the compound its emulsifying properties.
As an emulsifier, E478 reduces surface tension at the boundary between oil and water, helping the two phases mix and remain stable. This prevents separation in dressings, batters and creams and can improve the texture and shelf life of baked goods by interacting with starch and gluten.
E478 is authorised under US FDA regulations (21 CFR 172.850) for use in shortenings, margarines, cake mixes, icings, whipped toppings and similar products. It is not authorised for use in food in the UK or EU, so it should not appear on UK food labels. Were it present on a UK product, it could appear as 'E478' or 'lactylated fatty acid esters of glycerol and propylene glycol'.
E478 does not appear in the UK Food Standards Agency approved additives list, which runs from E477 directly to E479b, skipping E478 entirely. The EU Regulation 1333/2008 Annex II union list similarly does not include E478 as an authorised food additive. Without authorisation it has not been subject to a full EFSA safety review as a current-use additive in the EU or UK.
E478 is absent from the UK FSA approved additives and E numbers list. The list moves directly from E477 to E479b.
E478 is not included in Annex II of EU Regulation 1333/2008, the union list of authorised food additives in the European Union.
The US FDA permits E478 in specific applications such as shortenings, cake mixes and whipped toppings under 21 CFR 172.850. Closely related compounds, including propylene glycol esters of fatty acids (E477) and mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids (E471), have been evaluated by EFSA. The EFSA review of E477 in 2018 found no safety concern at permitted use levels, but E478 is a distinct compound combining both glycerol and propylene glycol esterification with lactic acid and has not received a parallel EU/UK authorisation.
The US FDA lists lactylated fatty acid esters of glycerol and propylene glycol as a permitted food additive in shortening, margarine, cake mixes, icings, fillings and whipped toppings at levels not exceeding good manufacturing practice.
EFSA re-evaluation of propylene glycol esters of fatty acids (E477, the closest authorised EU analogue) found no safety concern at current permitted use levels.
Propylene glycol is itself an authorised carrier solvent in the EU (E1520) and is considered low-risk at typical dietary exposures. However, because E478 is not authorised in UK or EU food, there is no EU-approved exposure estimate for the combined compound. The lactic acid and fatty acid portions of the molecule are metabolised normally as common dietary components.
Propylene glycol (E1520) is authorised as a carrier in the EU and has an established acceptable daily intake of 25mg per kg body weight per day set by JECFA.
Because E478 is not authorised in the UK or EU, its presence on any UK food label would be irregular. The compound contains propylene glycol and fatty acid fractions derived from animal or vegetable sources; anyone avoiding animal-derived fats should check the origin of the fatty acid component if they encounter this additive in products sold outside the UK or EU. Look for 'E478' or 'lactylated fatty acid esters of glycerol and propylene glycol' on the ingredients list.
The most relevant fact about E478 in a UK context is that it is not on the UK or EU approved additives list. UK shoppers should not encounter it on compliant UK products. In countries where it is permitted, such as the USA, it belongs to a well-established family of food emulsifiers derived from ordinary dietary fats and acids; related compounds have been in use for decades without a documented pattern of adverse effects at food-use levels. The absence of EU or UK authorisation means there is no formal EFSA or FSA safety opinion on this specific combined ester. That is a regulatory gap, not a confirmed hazard, but it does mean the compound has not been through the same scrutiny as the additives that do carry UK or EU approval.
E478 is not on the UK FSA approved additives list, which means it is not authorised for use in food sold in the UK. It has not been formally banned following a safety finding; it simply has not been granted authorisation under the UK or EU regulatory frameworks that govern food additives.
Different regulatory systems apply different authorisation frameworks. The US FDA approved E478 under 21 CFR 172.850 for specific uses. The EU and UK operate a positive-list system under Regulation 1333/2008: only additives explicitly listed are permitted. E478 was never added to that list, so it cannot lawfully be used in UK or EU food regardless of its US status.
E478 should not appear in food products sold in the UK or EU. In countries where it is permitted, such as the USA, it may be found in shortenings, margarines, cake mixes, icings, fillings and whipped toppings.
E478 is not inherently vegan. The fatty acid component can be derived from animal fats (such as tallow or lard) or from vegetable oils. Without specific labelling indicating the source, it is not possible to confirm whether a given product's E478 is plant-derived.
Last reviewed: 20 June 2026
It's the only app that does thisUKJaneK
You Need This AppGmac2005
Best AppGK getting skinny UK App Store reviews
NutraSafe reads the label and puts every additive into plain English, with the source, right in the app.
NutraSafe Pro · £3.99/month · iOS
