My diet:

E471 Mono- and Diglycerides

E471EmulsifiersOrigin: Plant or animal
Get a personal answer

Pick your family’s diets in the bar above.

Every diet

VeganDepends

Can come from plant oils or animal fat. Only a vegan label or certification tells you which.

Full answer ›
Gluten-freeYes
HalalDepends

May come from pork fat. Look for halal certification.

KosherDepends

May come from non-kosher animal fat. Look for a hechsher.

KetoYes

They're fats, with no carbs.

Low-FODMAPYes
The short answer
Mono- and diglycerides (E471) are emulsifiers that can be made from plants or from pork or beef fat. They're only vegan, halal or kosher when the product is certified.
Use in moderation

Safe in small amounts; may bother some people or raise blood sugar.

E-numberE471
Comes fromPlant or animal
What it doesEmulsifiers
Glycemic index—
Daily limitNot set
Also calledMono and diglycerides, Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids

Want the certified-vegan version?

Plant-based picks
Plant-based swap

Certified vegan sandwich bread

No animal-derived emulsifiers.

Shop vegan bread Opens your country’s Amazon store
Plant-based swap

Sunflower lecithin for home baking

Keeps homemade bread soft without E471.

Shop sunflower lecithin Opens your country’s Amazon store
Vegan treats

Certified vegan ice cream

Made without animal fats.

Shop vegan ice cream Opens your country’s Amazon store

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. It never changes our ratings.

Rules by country

🇺🇸 US FDAApproved
🇪🇺 European UnionApproved
🇨🇦 Health CanadaApproved
CaliforniaNo extra rules

Approved everywhere with no daily limit. Because they count as emulsifiers, not fats, their small trans-fat content isn't always shown on US nutrition labels.

Daily limit: Experts haven’t set a number because normal food amounts are far below any level of concern.

What is it?

These are fat molecules with one or two fatty-acid chains instead of three. That makes them grab both water and oil, so they hold mixtures together and keep bread soft.

Where it comes from: Made by reacting fats with glycerol. The fat can be palm, soybean or sunflower oil, or animal fat such as beef or pork tallow; the label rarely says which.

Why it’s in food

  • Keeps bread soft longer
  • Makes ice cream smooth
  • Stops peanut butter oil separating
  • Gives whipped toppings their volume

Often found in

Sliced breadIce creamPeanut butterMargarineCoffee creamerCakes

Also listed as: Mono and diglycerides, Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids, Monoglycerides, Diglycerides, Glyceryl monostearate, Distilled monoglycerides

Health & gut impact

Heart healthUnder study

A 2023 French study of 95,000 adults linked higher intake of E471 to a slightly higher risk of heart disease. It shows an association, not cause.

Sellem et al., BMJ (2023)

Trans fatsConcern

May contain small amounts of trans fat not listed on the label.

FDA (2015)

What can I use instead?

Sunflower lecithin

Ratio: About half the amount

Best for: Bread and chocolate

Egg yolk

Ratio: 1 yolk per loaf

Best for: Home baking (not vegan)

Related

Is it vegan?

More emulsifiers:

Lecithin (Soy / Sunflower) E322Lecithin (E322) is a natural fat from soy or sunflower that keeps chocolate, dressings and baked goods smooth. It's safe, vegan and gluten-free. People with a soy allergy should look for sunflower lecithin.Generally safePolysorbate 80 E433Polysorbate 80 (E433) is a lab-made emulsifier in ice cream and sauces. Mouse studies linked it to gut inflammation, and its vegan status depends on the fat source.Use in moderation

Common questions

Is Mono- and Diglycerides safe?

Use in moderation (70/100). Approved everywhere with no daily limit. Because they count as emulsifiers, not fats, their small trans-fat content isn't always shown on US nutrition labels.

Is Mono- and Diglycerides vegan?

Depends. Can come from plant oils or animal fat. Only a vegan label or certification tells you which.

Is Mono- and Diglycerides gluten-free?

Yes.

Spotted a mistake on this page? Report it ›

Scientific sources & regulatory citations
  • 21 CFR 184.1505 (US FDA)
  • EFSA OpenFoodTox: E471
  • Sellem et al., BMJ (2023)
  • FDA (2015)

Last checked against FDA, EFSA and Health Canada records: October 31, 2026 · INS 471 · CAS 67254-73-3