E471 — Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids

Needs verification

E471 (Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids) needs verification. The most common emulsifier in packaged food — it keeps fat and water from separating.

Why it needs verification

It is made from plant oils or from animal fat, and European labels are not required to say which. This is why so much bread and ice cream ends up needing verification rather than clean.

Where you meet it

Sliced bread, margarine, ice cream, biscuits, cake.

What to do in the shop

Look for a product that names the source, says plant-based or vegan, or carries a halal certificate. If nothing on the packet settles it, the manufacturer can tell you, and their answer is the only thing that turns E471 from a question into an answer.

A status here describes the additive in general — a specific product can be different. The same number can be made from plant or animal material depending on the manufacturer, and the label does not say which.

Questions people ask

Is E471 halal?

E471 (Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids) needs verification. It is made from plant oils or from animal fat, and European labels are not required to say which. This is why so much bread and ice cream ends up needing verification rather than clean.

How do I know if the E471 in a product is halal?

Only the manufacturer can tell you which source they used, unless the packet says plant-based, vegan, or carries a halal certificate.

Related additives

E470a — Fatty acid salts (sodium, potassium, calcium) · Needs verification
E470b — Magnesium salts of fatty acids · Needs verification
E472a — Acetic acid esters of mono- and diglycerides · Needs verification

See all E-numbers →

Check a product, not just a number

An additive's status describes the additive in general. What matters is the whole ingredient list on the packet in your hand.

This is information, not a fatwa. These statuses combine published scholarly positions with ingredient analysis, and they can be incomplete or out of date. For anything that matters, confirm with the manufacturer and with a qualified authority.