Home › Ingredients › Emulsifiers and stabilisers › E481
Check the sourceIs E481 (Sodium stearoyl lactylate) halal?
It depends on the source. It can be made from plants, by fermentation or synthetically, or from animal fat or tissue, and the label rarely says which. Made from fatty acids that can come from plant oils or animal fat (including pork). Source is rarely on the label. Common in bread and cakes.
What E481 is used for
Sodium stearoyl lactylate is used as a emulsifier / stabiliser. On Australian labels it usually appears by its function and number, for example "emulsifier (481)", without the letter E.
How to tell if it's halal
Look for a halal certifier's logo, or a source named on the label, such as "emulsifier (471, from vegetable oil)". If there's neither, email the manufacturer and ask where it comes from.
Check a label with E481
Paste the full ingredient list into our label checker. It flags E481 along with every other additive that needs a second look.