E476 — Polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR)

Needs verification

E476 (Polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR)) needs verification. An emulsifier that makes chocolate flow smoothly with less cocoa butter.

Why it needs verification

The castor-oil part is plant, but the glycerol part can be made from animal fat, including pork. Fine when a plant source is declared or the product is marked vegan or vegetarian; otherwise the source needs confirming.

Where you meet it

Chocolate, chocolate coatings, spreads.

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 E476 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 E476 halal?

E476 (Polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR)) needs verification. The castor-oil part is plant, but the glycerol part can be made from animal fat, including pork. Fine when a plant source is declared or the product is marked vegan or vegetarian; otherwise the source needs confirming.

How do I know if the E476 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

E475 — Polyglycerol esters of fatty acids · Needs verification
E477 — Propylene glycol esters of fatty acids · Needs verification
E474 — Sucroglycerides · 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 These statuses combine published scholarly positions with ingredient analysis, and they can be incomplete or out of date.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.