E434 Polysorbate 40 — is it halal?

Ruling: Mashbuh (doubtful)

Description

An emulsifier: polysorbate 40 (polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monopalmitate) — a sorbitol ester of a fatty acid (palmitic acid) condensed with about 20 moles of ethylene oxide. The instruments do not name the fat species; no statement for food-grade E 434; per VRG, Stepan says all its polysorbates are plant-based, Lonza that non-kosher ones may be from animal fats. Beef (c3) and pig (c4)

Basis of the ruling

Polysorbate 40 is an emulsifier: sorbitol is combined with palmitic acid and then with ethylene oxide. The standards do not name the fat or oil this acid comes from; there are no statements on the food grade: one manufacturer calls its polysorbates plant-based, while another says some of its grades may come from…

Names: Полисорбат 40 · Polysorbate 40 · بوليسوربات 40

Also known as: Tween 40, E 434, INS 434, Твин 40, polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monopalmitate, полиоксиэтилен (20) сорбитан монопальмитат, 吐温40, 聚氧乙烯（20）山梨醇酐单棕榈酸酯

Category: Emulsifiers

Regulatory source: EU 1333/2008

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