E493 Sorbitan monolaurate — is it halal?

Ruling: Mashbuh (doubtful)

Description

An emulsifier: a mixture of partial esters of sorbitol and its anhydrides (sorbitan, isosorbide) with commercial lauric acid. The E 493 instruments do not name the oil or fat for the lauric acid or restrict it to plant sources; the CIR review names animal fats, including milk fat, for lauric acid in general; for the lauric acid the documents name coconut oil fatty acids (a feed additive per EFSA 2019, patents).

Basis of the ruling

Sorbitan monolaurate is an emulsifier: esters of sorbitol and its anhydrides with commercial lauric acid. The standards do not name the fat or oil the lauric acid comes from; for lauric acid in general, sources name both coconut oil and animal fats of unnamed species.

Names: Сорбитан монолаурат · Sorbitan monolaurate · أحاديّ لورات السوربيتان

Also known as: Span 20, СПЭН 20, 司盘20, 山梨醇酐单月桂酸酯

Category: Emulsifiers

Regulatory source: EU 1333/2008

Preview. The full card opens with JavaScript enabled.