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Emulsifier

E494 (sorbitan monooleate): what it is, its sources, vegan or not

E494 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

E494=source not stated

What is E494?

E494 (sorbitan monooleate) is an emulsifier, an additive that keeps oil and water mixed in a food.

What is E494 made from?

E494 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 E494 vegan?

Heads up. Source not stated. E494 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. E494 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. E494 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 E494 have on a label?

On a label, E494 can also appear as “INS 494”, “Emulsifier (494)”, “Emulsifier (E494)” or “Sorbitan monooleate”.

Any of these on a pack means E494. The checker reads them all.

E494E 494E-494INS 494Emulsifier (494)Emulsifier (E494)Sorbitan monooleate

What would change the answer for E494?

For E494, 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.