Other names for the additive (synonyms)
General Information
The food additive E492 (sorbitan tristearate) is a synthetic compound belonging to emulsifiers and texture stabilisers. It helps mix substances that normally do not combine, such as water and fat, ensuring a uniform and stable texture in food products.
Sorbitan tristearate was developed in the mid-20th century as an emulsifier based on sorbitol and stearic acid. Since then, it has been widely used in the food and pharmaceutical industries.
The chemical formula of the food additive E492 is C60H114O8. It appears as a white or light-yellow wax-like substance, odourless, with a mild fatty taste. It is insoluble in water but readily soluble in fats and organic solvents.
Industrially, the emulsifier E492 is produced by direct esterification of sorbitol (a sugar alcohol) with stearic acid at elevated temperatures (around 200°C) in the presence of alkaline catalysts. The raw material stearic acid is obtained from vegetable oils (such as palm or soybean oil) or animal fats.
Effects on the Body
Benefit of Additive E492
The food additive E492 (sorbitan tristearate) has no direct nutritional value for the human body. It is not a source of essential nutrients, does not perform vitamin or mineral functions, and does not contribute energy.
Risks of Additive E492
Excessive consumption of the food additive E492 may cause digestive discomfort, including bloating, flatulence, or diarrhoea, which is associated with the intestinal metabolism of sorbitol derivatives.
The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) established an acceptable daily intake for the food additive E492 at a level of 0–25 mg per kg of body weight. Exceeding this level may theoretically contribute to fatty acid accumulation in the liver or provoke allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.
However, based on available scientific evidence, the food additive E492 does not pose a health risk to consumers when consumed within the established intake limits.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), within the framework of the re-evaluation of sorbitan esters, concluded that the food additive E492 does not exhibit genotoxic properties and that its metabolism in the human body is predictable and safe. EFSA established a group acceptable daily intake (ADI) for sorbitan esters, including the food additive E492, of 10 mg/kg body weight per day (expressed as sorbitan) and confirmed that dietary exposure does not exceed this value even among high consumers. Therefore, EFSA considers the use of the food additive E492 to be safe within the permitted uses and levels.
Uses
In the food industry, the food additive E492 is used as an emulsifier in the production of chocolate, confectionery products, vegetable cream substitutes, ice cream, creams, glazes, sauces, margarines, and spreads.
Outside the food sector, sorbitan tristearate is used in the cosmetic industry to produce creams and lotions with a uniform texture, as well as in pharmaceuticals as an excipient to stabilise medicinal formulations.
Legal Status
The food additive E492 is included in the International Numbering System for Food Additives under the Codex Alimentarius: CXG 36-1989.
Currently, the emulsifier E492 is permitted for use in food products in most countries worldwide, including the European Union, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada.
In the European Union, the use of sorbitan tristearate is regulated and limited to technological necessity in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008.
In the United States, the FDA recognises the food additive E492 as GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) for use in food, provided it is applied in accordance with good manufacturing practice.