What is E494?

Complete guide to understanding E494 (Sorbitan Monooleate) in your food

The Quick Answer

E494 is a food emulsifier also known as sorbitan monooleate (or “Span 80”).

It’s used in food to mix ingredients that normally don’t blend well, like fats and water.

It’s found in many everyday food products you probably eat regularly.

What Exactly Is It?

E494 is made from sorbitol and oleic acid, a natural fatty acid found in vegetable oils and animal fats.

The name “sorbitan monooleate” comes from its chemical structure: it’s a sorbitan molecule (derived from sorbitol) combined with one molecule of oleic acid.

In technical terms, it’s a nonionic surfactant and fatty acid ester that functions as an emulsifier.

But in simple terms: it’s a substance that acts like a bridge between ingredients that don’t normally mix.

Where You’ll Find It

E494 appears in a wide variety of foods:

• Ice cream and frozen desserts
• Baked goods and bread
• Candies and confectionery
• Chocolate products
• Salad dressings and condiments
• Dairy products
• Powders for instant drinks
• Bakery yeast preparations
• Glazes and jellies

It’s one of the most widely used food emulsifiers in Europe and worldwide.

If you eat processed foods regularly, you’ve almost certainly consumed it multiple times.

Why Do Food Companies Use It?

E494’s main job is emulsification: it allows oils and water-based ingredients to blend smoothly.

Without an emulsifier like E494:

• Ice cream would develop large ice crystals and become grainy
• Dressings would separate into layers
• Baked goods would have a poor texture
• Chocolate wouldn’t spread evenly

E494 also stabilizes food products, helping them maintain consistent texture and extending shelf life. This makes food manufacturing more efficient and helps prevent products from spoiling.

Is It Safe?

E494 is widely recognized as safe by regulatory authorities.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has thoroughly evaluated it. In their 2017 re-evaluation, they established an Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) of 10 mg/kg body weight per day (expressed as sorbitan).

For a person weighing 70 kg (154 lbs), this means you could safely consume approximately 700 mg of sorbitan esters per day.

To put this in perspective: you would need to eat extremely large quantities of E494-containing foods in one day to approach unsafe levels. Normal dietary exposure is well below this threshold.

The FDA in the United States also approves E494 for use in food, and it appears on official approved additives lists in the EU and UK.

Natural vs Synthetic Version

E494 can be manufactured in two ways:

Natural version: Made from sorbitol derived from corn, wheat, or potatoes, combined with oleic acid from vegetable oils (like olive or soybean oil).

Synthetic version: Made in a laboratory using the same chemical process, potentially using oleic acid from animal sources.

Chemically, both versions are identical. Your body processes them the same way regardless of origin.

Many modern food manufacturers prefer the plant-based version to meet consumer preferences and vegetarian/vegan labeling requirements.

Natural Alternatives

Want to avoid E494 or other synthetic emulsifiers?

Food companies sometimes use these alternatives:

• Lecithin (E322) – derived from soybeans, sunflower, or egg yolk
• Gums (guar gum, xanthan gum, acacia gum) – plant-based thickeners and stabilizers
• Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids (E471) – another emulsifier
• Natural honey or egg – traditional emulsifiers in some products

These alternatives often work comparably to E494 but are typically more expensive. This is why they’re found mainly in premium or specialty products, while E494 dominates mass-market foods.

The Bottom Line

E494 (sorbitan monooleate) is a widely used food emulsifier that helps combine ingredients and stabilize products.

It’s present in most processed foods, particularly ice cream, baked goods, and confectionery.

Regulatory bodies including the FDA and EFSA have determined it’s safe for consumption at normal dietary levels.

While some people prefer to avoid synthetic additives, E494 is considered one of the safer food additives with a long history of use and thorough safety evaluation.

You have every right to know what’s in your food—checking labels is a smart practice, whether you’re avoiding E494 or any other ingredient.