Stigmasterol-rich plant sterols
A functional ingredient that provides structural benefits to food while promoting heart health.
- Category
- Stabilisers
- Vegan
- Yes
- Vegetarian
- Yes
What it is
E499 consists of plant sterols (phytosterols) used to lower cholesterol levels and act as food stabilizers.
How it is used in food
Its function in food is physical, not nutritional: in ready-to-freeze alcoholic cocktails it seeds ice-crystal formation so the drink freezes to an even slush rather than a solid block or a separated mixture, which is what makes freeze-at-home pouches work.
Commonly found in- Margarine
- Dairy alternatives
- Functional foods
Health and safety
Considered safe and actively beneficial for lowering LDL cholesterol.
EFSA concluded stigmasterol-rich plant sterols are safe at the proposed use level in ready-to-freeze cocktails. The well-established cholesterol-lowering effect of plant sterols — around a 7–12% drop in LDL — requires 1.5–3 g per day from sterol-enriched foods, hundreds of times more than the additive dose here, so E 499 should not be read as a heart-health ingredient.
Regulatory status
| Region | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Australia & New Zealand FSANZ |
Permitted | Permitted under the FSANZ Food Standards Code. |
| European Union EFSA / European Commission |
Permitted | Authorised for food use under EU regulations (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
- E499
Worth knowing
It is one of the most narrowly authorised additives in the EU — permitted essentially for ready-to-freeze alcoholic drinks and nothing else. Plant sterols are the plant equivalent of cholesterol, and stigmasterol was historically the industrial starting material for making steroid hormones such as progesterone.
Conclusion
A functional ingredient that provides structural benefits to food while promoting heart health.
References
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Open the appEntry last reviewed 2026-07-28.
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