Emulsifiers & thickeners · Food additive

Sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate (E481)

Updated October 2, 2026

Sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate (E481) is a food additive in the “emulsifiers & thickeners” group. It appears in 9,572 products in our database, 6,484 of them sold in the US.

Quick facts

Also known as
E481
E-number
E481
Function
Emulsifiers & thickeners
Found in
9,572 products (6,484 sold in the US)

Foods that commonly contain Sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate

Cakes 18% · 1,674
Breads 9% · 1,356
Pastries 13% · 531
Creamer 20% · 311
Desserts 7% · 234
Frozen foods 2% · 229
Hamburger buns 18% · 224
Sliced breads 9% · 202

Share of published products in each category whose ingredient list includes Sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate.

Popular products with Sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate

Sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate-free alternatives

Popular products from the same categories that don't list Sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate and score Nutri-Score A–C.

How to spot Sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate on a label

Look for any of these names in the ingredient list:

Sodium stearoyl-2-lactylateE481

Related additives

Frequently asked questions

What foods contain Sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate?

In our database, Sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate most often appears in cakes, breads, pastries and creamer.

How many products contain Sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate?

9,572 published products on Foodmetria list Sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate, including 6,484 sold in the United States. Counts come from ingredient lists in Open Food Facts and update daily.

Product data: Open Food Facts (ODbL), updated daily. Additive information is for general education and is not medical advice. Always check the package label. Our methodology.