Salts of fatty acids
Safe, but vegans should verify if the fats were plant-sourced.
- Category
- Emulsifiers
- Vegan
- maybe
- Vegetarian
- maybe
What it is
A generic categorization for sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium salts of fatty acids (like E470a and E470b).
How it is used in food
The sodium, potassium, calcium (E 470a) and magnesium (E 470b) salts of fatty acids act as emulsifiers, anticaking agents and release agents — keeping powdered drink mixes, spice blends and tablets free-flowing, stopping products sticking to moulds and belts, and stabilising fat-in-water systems.
Commonly found in- Baked goods
- Confectionery
Health and safety
Metabolized safely like normal dietary fats.
EFSA's 2018 re-evaluation of E 470a and E 470b found no safety concern at reported use levels and set no numerical ADI: the fatty acid part is metabolised like any dietary fat and the mineral part joins the body's normal calcium, magnesium, sodium or potassium pool. The fatty acids can come from plant or animal fat, which is a labelling rather than a safety question.
Regulatory status
| Region | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Australia & New Zealand FSANZ |
Permitted | Permitted under the FSANZ Food Standards Code. |
| European Union EFSA / European Commission |
Not approved | Not on the EU authorised list of food additives (Annex II). |
| United States FDA (Food and Drug Administration) |
Permitted | Authorised for food use by the FDA (often GRAS for standard additives). |
Identification on labels
- E-number
- E470
Worth knowing
Chemically these are soaps: calcium stearate and sodium stearate are the same class of compound as a bar of hand soap. At the fractions of a percent used in food they simply behave as lubricants, and magnesium stearate is the most widely used tablet lubricant in the world.
Conclusion
Safe, but vegans should verify if the fats were plant-sourced.
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Open the appEntry last reviewed 2026-07-28.
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