Aluminium stearate
Not authorised in EU, but permitted in AU-NZ and US. No evidence of harm at dietary intake.
- Category
- Anti-caking agents
- Vegan
- maybe
- Vegetarian
- maybe
What it is
An aluminium salt of stearic acid, functioning as an anti-caking agent and emulsifier.
How it is used in food
Serves as an anti-caking agent, thickener and defoaming aid in the jurisdictions where it is permitted, exploiting stearate's water-repelling, powder-coating properties.
Commonly found in- Historically in food
- Cosmetics
Health and safety
Not authorised in the EU for food use due to restrictions on dietary aluminium exposure.
EFSA's 2008 review of dietary aluminium set a tolerable weekly intake of just 1 mg/kg body weight and found parts of the population already exceed it, which led to aluminium-containing additives being culled from the EU list. The stearate component itself is metabolised as ordinary fatty acid and raises no independent concern.
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
- E573
Also printed asaluminum stearate
Worth knowing
Its EU exclusion has little to do with the stearate part — magnesium and calcium stearates are freely used — and everything to do with the aluminium ion it carries, after European regulators moved to cut aluminium from as many dietary sources as possible.
Conclusion
An unauthorized aluminium compound.
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Open the appEntry last reviewed 2026-07-28.
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