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Emulsifier, thickener or gelling agent

Is Sorbitan Stearate halal?

Depends on origin. SANHA classes E491 as mushbooh pending verification of the stearic-acid feedstock.

Source-dependentDoubtful until the source is known (mashbooh)

Depends on origin. SANHA classes E491 as mushbooh pending verification of the stearic-acid feedstock.

What the sources say

Halal when stearic acid is plant-derived. Mashbooh if stearic acid source is unspecified. Non-ionic emulsifier.
Source Dependent Ester of sorbitol (plant) and stearic acid (plant or animal) HalalExpo (secondary aggregator · grade C: secondary reference · accessed 2026-08-21)
Status: Mushbooh Source: from stearic acid & sorbitol. Check source of stearic acid.
Mushbooh SANHA's E491 (Sorbitan Monostearate) entry is a status table with no prose sentence about the additive; the quote is the verbatim table text. Halal only where the stearic acid is confirmed plant or synthetic rather than animal fat. South African National Halaal Authority (SANHA) (primary certifier ruling · grade A: primary source · accessed 2026-08-29)

Quick facts

NameSorbitan Stearate
Also on labels asspan 60, sorbitan monostearate
Additive classEmulsifier, thickener or gelling agent
ClassificationSource-dependent
Last verified2026-08-29

Common questions

Is Sorbitan Stearate halal?

Sorbitan Stearate is classified as Source-dependent. Depends on origin. SANHA classes E491 as mushbooh pending verification of the stearic-acid feedstock.

Is Sorbitan Stearate halal or haram?

On the evidence cited on this page, Sorbitan Stearate is source-dependent. Doubtful until the source is known (mashbooh) Every position is attributed to a named certifier or scholarly body with a link, so you can verify it directly.

What else is Sorbitan Stearate called on ingredient labels?

It can appear as: span 60, sorbitan monostearate.

Why isn't there a single yes/no answer for Sorbitan Stearate?

Because the ruling depends on information the label does not carry — the source material, the production route, or which scholarly position you follow. This page shows each named position with a link so you can check it yourself.

Where does this page's information come from?

Every position on this page is attributed to a named certifier or scholarly body with a direct link, listed under 'What the sources say'. Muttoo aggregates and cites; it does not issue rulings.

Related lookups

Record ingredient-sorbitan-stearate · last verified 2026-08-29 · report an error