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Emulsifier

E491 (sorbitan monostearate): what it is, its sources, vegan or not

E491 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

E491=source not stated

What is E491?

E491 (sorbitan monostearate) is an emulsifier, an additive that keeps oil and water mixed in a food.

What is E491 made from?

E491 can come from plant oils or animal fat. The source is not stated on the pack: a label does not have to say which of these was used.

Plant oils
Animal fat

Is E491 vegan?

Heads up. Source not stated. E491 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. E491 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. E491 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 E491 have on a label?

On a label, E491 can also appear as “INS 491”, “Emulsifier (491)”, “Emulsifier (E491)” or “Sorbitan monostearate”.

Any of these on a pack means E491. The checker reads them all.

E491E 491E-491INS 491Emulsifier (491)Emulsifier (E491)Sorbitan monostearate

What would change the answer for E491?

For E491, 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.