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Emulsifier

E481 (sodium stearoyl lactylate): what it is, its sources, vegan or not

E481 can come from plant oils or animal fat, and the pack rarely says which. Vegetarian and vegan profiles get Heads up: source not stated.

By Bravoora teamUpdated 13 October 2026Sources checked 20 September 20264 sourcesHow we check

Heads up

for a vegan profile

E481=source not stated

What is E481?

E481 (sodium stearoyl lactylate) is an emulsifier, an additive that keeps oil and water mixed in a food.

What is E481 made from?

E481 can come from plant oils or animal fat.

Plant oils
Animal fat

Is E481 vegan?

Heads up. Source not stated. E481 can come from plant oils or animal fat. The pack does not have to say which, so the app says Heads up instead of guessing.

What the app says to each profile, and the reason it shows.

VeganHeads upSource not stated. E481 can come from plant oils or animal fat. The pack does not have to say which, so the app says Heads up instead of guessing.

VegetarianHeads upSource not stated. E481 can come from plant oils or animal fat. One of those is meat, fish or a slaughter by-product, and the pack does not have to say which.

What other names does E481 have on a label?

On a label, E481 can also appear as “INS 481”, “Emulsifier (481)”, “Emulsifier (E481)”, “Sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate” or “SSL”.

Any of these on a pack means E481. The checker reads them all.

E481E 481E-481INS 481Emulsifier (481)Emulsifier (E481)Sodium stearoyl-2-lactylateSSL

What would change the answer for E481?

For E481, a stated source changes the answer. A pack that says “from plant oils” gives Fits you; one that says “from animal fat” gives Not for you. A list that is cut off or unreadable gets Needs one more scan.