INS 491 is the code for sorbitan monostearate
Stops fat blooming on chocolate and keeps icing and whipped toppings stable.
- What it does
- Keeps oil and water mixed An emulsifier
- Also printed as
- Span 60
- Vegetarian?
- Depends on the maker Source not stated on the label
- In the Zabel score
- 2 of the 20 additive points Method 1.0.0
- In our catalogue
- 16 packs List it in their ingredients
Is INS 491 vegetarian?
It depends on the maker. INS 491 can be made from plant or animal sources and the label does not say which, so the code tells you nothing either way. The green or brown mark on the pack is the declaration to go by.
Too few packs in our catalogue list INS 491 for a breakdown by food to mean anything yet. We print one once at least 20 categorised packs carry it.
What does the evidence say about INS 491?
We grade an additive by the evidence about it, not by whether it sounds like a chemical, and we make no claim about whether a pack complies with FSSAI rules.
JECFA sets a group ADI of 25 mg/kg body weight for sorbitan esters. As with other fatty-acid derived emulsifiers, the stearic acid may be plant or animal in origin.
Does Zabel mark INS 491 down?
Yes, by 2 points. The additives part of the score starts at 20, and each code takes off a fixed amount set by the strength of the evidence about it, not by the fact that it is an additive (method 1.0.0). Read the method.
Questions people search
What is INS 491?
INS 491 is the code for sorbitan monostearate, an emulsifier. Stops fat blooming on chocolate and keeps icing and whipped toppings stable.
Is INS 491 vegetarian?
It depends on the maker. INS 491 can be made from plant or animal sources and the label does not say which, so the code tells you nothing either way. The green or brown mark on the pack is the declaration to go by.
What does the evidence say about INS 491?
JECFA sets a group ADI of 25 mg/kg body weight for sorbitan esters. As with other fatty-acid derived emulsifiers, the stearic acid may be plant or animal in origin.
Does Zabel mark INS 491 down?
Yes, by 2 points. The additives part of the score starts at 20, and each code takes off a fixed amount set by the strength of the evidence about it, not by the fact that it is an additive (method 1.0.0).
What other names is INS 491 printed under?
Packs also print it as Span 60, or as the bare number 491 in brackets after the ingredient.
Sources
- 01 Evaluations of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) WHO / FAO, 2024
- 02 Zabel catalogue - pack counts, food categories and the codes printed alongside 4 Nov 2026
Entry updated 19 Sep 2026 · Not reviewed by a dietitian yet · Report an error on this page
Point the camera at the pack.
Zabel reads every INS code on it, shows the score, and shows the working.