Tag: Mono and diglycerides

According to the FDA, mono and diglycerides of fatty acids are classified as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) and have been used in food production for decades. These common emulsifiers are used to improve the texture and shelf life of many packaged foods, raising questions about whether they are bad for your health.

Did you know that Dairy Queen’s soft serve contains specific emulsifiers and stabilizers to achieve its signature smooth texture, a factor that sometimes impacts its official classification as ice cream? This article reveals exactly what are the emulsifiers in Dairy Queen's famous frozen treats.

INS 471, commonly known as mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids, is a ubiquitous food emulsifier found in many processed foods, from baked goods to ice cream. Composed of glycerol and fatty acids, the specific sources of INS 471 can be either plant-based or animal-derived, a fact that is often not indicated on a product's ingredient list.

While a simple, traditional loaf of bread is naturally vegan, a significant portion of commercially produced bread contains animal products to enhance flavor, texture, or shelf life. This article will reveal what to look for and how to ensure your bread is plant-based.

According to regulatory bodies like the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the food additive E471 is considered safe for consumption at recommended levels. The primary purpose of E471 is to act as an emulsifier and stabilizer, facilitating the blend of oil and water in processed foods to improve texture and extend shelf life.

As one of the most widely used emulsifiers in processed foods, the European food additive E471 is found in countless products from baked goods to ice cream. So, what is E471 in food made of, and why is knowing its source so critical for consumers with specific dietary requirements, including vegan or halal diets?

Made from fats and oils, emulsifier 471 (mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids) is a ubiquitous food additive, found in over 33,000 food products in Europe, primarily to improve texture and extend shelf life. This ingredient helps create stable mixtures of oil and water, which would otherwise separate.

According to the Food-Info website, the fatty acids used to create E471 can be sourced from either vegetable or animal fats, including pork, making it impossible to determine its origin from the ingredient list alone. So, what animal does E471 come from, and what does this mean for vegans, vegetarians, and those with religious dietary restrictions? For these consumers, the ambiguity of E471 is a significant concern that requires further investigation.

Food labeling regulations can be confusing, and according to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a long-standing FDA loophole allows products with up to 0.5 grams of trans fat per serving to be labeled as "0 grams," a deceptive practice for unsuspecting consumers. This means that some of the unhealthiest fats, along with many of the healthiest ones, may not appear on the standard nutrition panel.

According to the FDA, mono- and diglycerides are generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for consumption. These food additives are nearly ubiquitous in processed foods, functioning as emulsifiers to improve texture and shelf life. Understanding the context of can you eat mono- and diglycerides involves looking beyond their GRAS status to consider their source and the nature of the foods they are in.