E-numbers / Thickeners & emulsifiers / E493
also: SPAN 20
An emulsifier made from sorbitol and a fatty acid, used to blend fats and water smoothly in confectionery and baked goods.
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EFSA found that children eating typical diets rich in confectionery and baked goods can exceed the group acceptable daily intake for sorbitan esters.
Why it’s worth knowing. EFSA found that children eating typical diets rich in confectionery and baked goods can exceed the group acceptable daily intake for sorbitan esters. The intake limit applies to the whole E491-E495 family combined, so exposure adds up across foods.
Sorbitan monolaurate is a sorbitan ester: sorbitol (a sugar alcohol) reacted with lauric acid (a fatty acid found in coconut and palm kernel oils). It belongs to a family of sorbitan ester emulsifiers (E491-E495) that share a common acceptable daily intake. It appears as a pale to amber waxy solid or flake.
It is a non-ionic surfactant that reduces surface tension between water and fat, keeping them blended in a stable emulsion. It also modifies the crystallisation of fats, giving confectionery and chocolate coatings a smoother texture and preventing fat bloom. In baked goods it improves dough consistency and extends softness.
Fine confectionery (chocolate-flavoured coatings, sugar confectionery, cake decorations), baked goods and flour confectionery, fat emulsions for baking, cocoa and chocolate products, and chewing gum. On a UK label it appears as 'sorbitan monolaurate' or 'emulsifier (E493)'.
EFSA re-evaluated the sorbitan esters (E491-E495) in 2020 and set a group acceptable daily intake of 10 mg sorbitan per kilogram of body weight per day, applying to all five sorbitan ester additives combined. Using the maximum permitted levels in food, EFSA calculated that children could exceed this group ADI, meaning the safety margin for high-consuming younger age groups narrows considerably. The concern does not apply to average adult consumption.
EFSA established a group ADI of 10 mg sorbitan per kilogram of body weight per day for E491-E495 as a class, and found that high-percentile dietary exposure in children approached or exceeded this value when maximum permitted levels were assumed.
Two in vitro genotoxicity studies conducted to Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) standards and following OECD guidelines were performed specifically on sorbitan monolaurate. Both were negative. EFSA's ANS Panel concluded that the sorbitan esters as a group do not raise concern for genotoxicity.
In vitro genotoxicity studies on sorbitan monolaurate (GLP, OECD guidelines) were negative; the ANS Panel concluded there is no genotoxicity concern for sorbitan esters.
Once eaten, sorbitan esters are partly hydrolysed in the gut into sorbitol anhydrides and fatty acids, which the body metabolises through normal fat and carbohydrate pathways. Some passes through intact and is excreted in faeces. No unusual metabolites of concern were identified in the EFSA review.
Oral sorbitan esters are partially hydrolysed to their fatty acid and sorbitol anhydride components and metabolised through normal routes; a fraction passes through unabsorbed.
Parents of children who eat a lot of confectionery, chocolate-coated products, and baked goods should be aware that the total sorbitan ester intake (from all E491-E495 sources combined) can approach the group limit at high consumption. Look for 'sorbitan monolaurate' or 'emulsifier (E493)' on labels.
E493 is one of the less prominent food emulsifiers and appears in a narrow range of products compared to lecithin or mono- and diglycerides. The EFSA 2020 re-evaluation is the most rigorous assessment to date: it found no genotoxicity concern and no evidence of harm at typical adult intakes, but it did identify a real gap between the group ADI and what high-percentile child consumers could take in if manufacturers used maximum permitted levels. Whether children routinely hit those levels in real diets is not certain, because the exposure estimate used maximum-use assumptions rather than measured concentrations in real products. The science here is not settled at the level of confirming harm, but the regulatory flag for children is genuine and not a formality.
No. E493 is authorised for use in the UK under assimilated EU food additive legislation retained after Brexit. It is permitted in confectionery, baked goods, chocolate products, and as a carrier in other food additive preparations.
EFSA evaluates sorbitan esters E491-E495 together under a shared group ADI of 10 mg sorbitan per kilogram of body weight per day. When EFSA modelled exposure using the maximum permitted levels in all foods where these additives are authorised, estimated intakes for children at the high end of consumption exceeded the group ADI. This is a precautionary modelling finding, not evidence that children are being harmed, but it means the safety margin is narrower for heavy consumers of confectionery and baked goods.
Chocolate-flavoured coatings, fine confectionery, cake icings, flour confectionery, baked goods, cocoa mixes, and chewing gum. It also appears in food additive preparations as a carrier. Check the label for 'sorbitan monolaurate' or 'emulsifier (E493)'.
It depends on the source of the lauric acid used in production. Lauric acid is most commonly derived from coconut or palm kernel oil, which would make it vegan. However, animal-derived sources are possible, and manufacturers are not required to declare the origin. Consumers following a vegan diet should contact the manufacturer directly to confirm.
Last reviewed: 20 June 2026
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