Emulsifier
E481 (sodium stearoyl lactylate): what it is, its sources, vegan or not
E481 can come from plant oils or animal fat, and the pack rarely says which. Vegetarian and vegan profiles get Heads up: source not stated.
Decode another E-numberWhich E-numbers come from animals?Add vegan to my profile
By Bravoora teamUpdated Sources checked 4 sourcesHow we check
Heads up
for a vegan profile
E481=source not stated
What is E481?
E481 (sodium stearoyl lactylate) is an emulsifier, an additive that keeps oil and water mixed in a food.
What is E481 made from?
- Plant oils
- Animal fat
Is E481 vegan?
Heads up. Source not stated. E481 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.
Bravoora is a calorie tracker and ingredient checker app. Scan a pack, a supplement or a skincare label and it answers for each person on your plan.
What the app says to each profile, and the reason it shows.
What other names does E481 have on a label?
Any of these on a pack means E481. The checker reads them all.
What would change the answer for E481?
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.
Sources: EU, US and Codex additive rules
Where additives are listed and approved. Bravoora reads the source and the diet; it does not rate the hazard.
- EU Regulation 1333/2008 on food additives (the E-number list)
- EU Regulation 1169/2011, Annex II: the allergen sources a label must name
- US FDA: Food Additive Status List
- FAO/WHO Codex: General Standard for Food Additives (GSFA) online
Names and classes cross-checked with Open Food Facts (Open Database License).
Create a website profile with the things you avoid and the people you check for.
Build my profileSaved to your account. On launch day, sign in to the app with the same email and carry on where you left off.