Emulsifiers & thickeners · Food additive

Sorbitan monostearate (E491)

Updated October 2, 2026

Sorbitan monostearate (E491) is a food additive in the “emulsifiers & thickeners” group. It appears in 2,686 products in our database, 2,324 of them sold in the US.

Quick facts

Also known as
E491
E-number
E491
Function
Emulsifiers & thickeners
Found in
2,686 products (2,324 sold in the US)

Foods that commonly contain Sorbitan monostearate

Cakes 9% · 858
Pastries 4% · 169
Frozen foods 1% · 138
Snacks 0% · 137
Biscuits 1% · 118
Baking decorations 4% · 110
Breads 1% · 90
Frozen desserts 1% · 80

Share of published products in each category whose ingredient list includes Sorbitan monostearate.

Popular products with Sorbitan monostearate

Sorbitan monostearate-free alternatives

Popular products from the same categories that don't list Sorbitan monostearate and score Nutri-Score A–C.

How to spot Sorbitan monostearate on a label

Look for any of these names in the ingredient list:

Sorbitan monostearateE491

Related additives

Frequently asked questions

What foods contain Sorbitan monostearate?

In our database, Sorbitan monostearate most often appears in cakes, pastries, frozen foods and snacks.

How many products contain Sorbitan monostearate?

2,686 published products on Foodmetria list Sorbitan monostearate, including 2,324 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.