E471EmulsifierStabiliser
What Is E471? Mono- and Diglycerides of Fatty Acids and Where It Is Used
Also known as: Mono- and diglycerides
E471 is mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids, an emulsifier that keeps fat and water mixed. It is used most in ice cream, cakes, bread, halva and instant coffee.
- In the Besin database
- 854 products
- About 7.3 in every 100 products
- Source
- Plant or animal
- Acceptable daily intake (ADI)
- No numerical value set
What does E471 do?
It gives ice cream a creamy texture and resistance to melting, keeps cakes and bread soft and slows staling, and helps the fat in instant coffee mixes disperse in water.
How is it made?
Made by reacting glycerol with fatty acids or by treating fats with glycerol. The fat can be a vegetable oil such as palm, sunflower or soy, or an animal fat.
Vegan and halal: The label usually does not say the source. People who eat vegan, vegetarian or halal should look for the product's vegan or halal certificate or ask the manufacturer.
Which products contain E471?
854 of the 11,663 packaged products in the Besin database list E471 (Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids) in their ingredients. The categories where it appears most often:
- Single-Serve Ice Cream162 products
- Tub Ice Cream96 products
- Mini Cakes72 products
- Halva47 products
- Instant Coffee37 products
- Chocolate Bars22 products
Numbers as of the database snapshot of October 18, 2026.
Official evaluation
EFSA re-evaluated E471 in 2017 and concluded that there is no need for a numerical ADI and no safety concern at the reported uses. It noted that digestion breaks it down into glycerol and fatty acids, which were assessed separately, and recommended tighter purity criteria for contaminants from production.
Food additives are regulated by the EU food additives regulation (Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008) and, in Türkiye, the Turkish Food Codex Regulation on Food Additives (Official Gazette, 30.06.2013, No. 28693). The ADI is the amount estimated to be safe to take every day over a lifetime, given per kilogram of body weight.
Frequently asked questions
Is E471 from animals?
It can be. E471 can be made from vegetable or animal fats and the label usually does not say which. A product with a vegan or halal certificate is taken to use a matching source.
Is E471 halal?
It depends on the source. E471 made from vegetable oil is fine; when it is of animal origin, which animal matters. For a sure answer, look for a halal certificate or ask the manufacturer.
Which products contain E471 most often?
In the Besin database it appears most often in single-serve and tub ice creams, mini cakes, halva and instant coffee.
Related additives
Sources
- EFSA (2017): Re-evaluation of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids (E471)
- the EU food additives regulation (Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008) and, in Türkiye, the Turkish Food Codex Regulation on Food Additives (Official Gazette, 30.06.2013, No. 28693)
Last reviewed: . This page is for information only and is not medical advice. To report a mistake, write to iletisim@besin.app.