E472b / Thickeners, stabilisers & emulsifiers
Lactic acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids
Safety in brief
Safe in moderation
Recorded EatMatrix rating, not a new clinical review. The amount, your sensitivities and country rules still matter.
- Watch for
- No allergen or sensitivity is recorded for this ingredient here. Check the whole product label; this is not an allergen-free guarantee.
- Our advice
- Read the whole food label and consider how often you eat the product. A name or E number does not tell you the amount, and an ingredient rating cannot assess the entire food.
What it is
Lactic acid esters of mono- and diglycerides (LACTEM) are emulsifiers formed from lactic acid and mono- or diglycerides of fatty acids. They are used mainly in margarine, coffee whiteners, and cake and bread products to stabilize emulsions and improve aeration and texture. Despite the name referencing lactic acid, they are not derived from milk and do not contain dairy protein or lactose. The fatty acid source can be plant or animal derived. They are considered safe for food use at typical levels.
Also appears on labels as: Lactic acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids, Lactic acid esters of mono and diglycerides of fatty acids, Lactic acid esters of mono- and diglycerides, Lactic esters of mono- and diglycerides, Mono- and diglycerides lactic acid esters, Esters of lactic acid with mono- and diglycerides, Lactic acid esters of diglycerides, Lactic acid esters of monoglycerides, Mixed lactic acid esters of mono- and diglycerides, Lactic acid diglyceride esters, Lactic acid monoglyceride esters, Lactic mono- and diglycerides.
Dietary information
- Vegan
- Depends on source
- Halal
- Depends on source
- Gluten-free
- Yes
- Allergens
- None recorded
Recorded ingredient information. Check the product label or certification: sources, other ingredients and cross-contact can vary.
Research & body effects
Selected research on E472b
How to read study types- Regulator reviewEFSA re-evaluation of acetic, lactic, citric and tartaric acids and related esters
No safety concern at the reported uses and levels.
Summaries of each source's published abstract or statement, checked . This is a selection of sources, not a complete literature review. Authority assessments apply to the uses and places they cover.
Health notes from our ingredient record
- Fatty acid source (plant or animal) is often unspecified, relevant for vegans, vegetarians, and religious diets.
- Generally recognized as safe at typical food use levels.
Other references from our ingredient record
These links come from the original ingredient record. They are separate from the source reviews above and have not all been checked for the exact ingredient, amount consumed or claim. Dates are shown newest first.
- Food additive emulsifiers and cancer risk — Multiple Authors, BMC Medicine (2024). Large-scale epidemiological study examining associations between food additive emulsifiers (including E471, E472a, E472b) and cancer risk. The study suggests potential deleterious effects of emulsifiers on the intestinal microbiota and metabolome, leading to chronic inflammation. However, the study emphasizes the need for further research to establish causal relationships and notes that current evidence does not warrant immediate regulatory changes.[caution]
- Food additive emulsifiers and risk of cardiovascular disease in the NutriNet-Santé cohort: prospective cohort study — Sellem, L., Srour, B., Gueraud, F., et al., BMJ (2023). Prospective cohort study examining associations between food additive emulsifiers (including E471, E472a, E472b) and cardiovascular disease risk. The study found some associations between higher emulsifier intake and increased cardiovascular disease risk, but emphasized that these findings require replication in other populations and that mechanistic studies are needed to understand potential causal pathways.[caution]
- Re‐evaluation of acetic acid, lactic acid, citric acid, tartaric acid, mono‐ and diacetyltartaric acid, mixed acetic and tartaric acid esters of mono‐ and diglycerides of fatty acids (E 472a‐f) as food additives — EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings (FAF), EFSA Journal (2020). The Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings (FAF) provided a scientific opinion re‐evaluating the safety of acetic acid esters of mono‐ and diglycerides (E 472a) and lactic acid esters of mono‐ and diglycerides (E 472b) among others. Hydrolysis of E472a,b would generate the parent compounds that have been previously evaluated as safe. Based on the available data, the Panel concluded that there is no safety concern.[safe]
- Re‐evaluation of acetic acid, lactic acid, citric acid, tartaric acid, mono‐ and diacetyltartaric acid, mixed acetic and tartaric acid esters of mono‐ and diglycerides of fatty acids (E 472a‐f) as food additives — EFSA Panel on Food Additives, EFSA Journal (2020). Official EFSA scientific opinion (bibliographic reference, imported 2026-10-13). It covers the additive as a group assessment and is not an individual human study; read the opinion for its findings.
Country rules
Country checks for E472B
Permission depends on the market, type of food, amount and conditions. A scientific opinion or an E-number alone does not establish a legal use. These checks are separate from the stored EatMatrix rating.
Compare all eight markets and their sources
| Market | What is checked |
|---|---|
| European Union | Regulation (EC) 1333/2008, Annex II Part B, version , contains the exact code E472B: Lactic acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids. Listing alone does not allow every food use. Part E food categories, limits, specifications and applicable later acts still need a product-specific check. Source read: . |
| Great Britain | The FSA register record for E472B (Lactic acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids) lists “Authorised” in England, Scotland and Wales. Register updated: 01 April 2025; record checked: . Food-specific conditions and specifications still need a separate legal check. |
| United States | Complete current-use review pending. Any scoped provision in the label guide above applies only to the stated use. FDA explains the applicable food-additive and GRAS framework. |
| Northern Ireland | Review pending. Check the applicable EU rules and territory arrangements; the GB register alone does not establish this status. FSA guidance is a starting source, not a verified permission for this entry. |
| Canada | Named food-use records located. Health Canada lists the preparations below for specified foods and purposes. This is conditional permission for those uses, not approval of every product or a personal safety verdict. Only the named records and conditions below were located. Exact composition and specifications still need matching. Source tables captured . List publication dates are shown separately. Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) is a condition of use, not an unlimited amount or a recommended intake. Food and Drug Regulations B.16.003 requires the listed source, purpose, amount and other conditions to match. The official consolidation read was current to 21 September 2026; product specifications and applicable later changes still need checking. Read 3 listed food-use conditionsLactylated Mono- and DiglyceridesHealth Canada: List of Permitted Emulsifying, Gelling, Stabilizing or Thickening Agents. List published ; item L.1.
EatMatrix reading: match the exact preparation and food first. A manufacturing limit is not an acceptable daily intake (ADI). A label without the amount cannot establish exposure, and an unlisted name here does not establish a ban. |
| Australia | Review pending. Food Standards Code permissions and conditions need an additive-specific check. FSANZ food-additive rules is a starting source, not a verified permission for this entry. |
| New Zealand | Review pending. Food Standards Code permissions and conditions need an additive-specific check. FSANZ food-additive rules is a starting source, not a verified permission for this entry. |
| Japan | Review pending. The relevant list, identity and use standards need an additive-specific check. CAA food-additive lists is a starting source, not a verified permission for this entry. |
Sources & review status
Check what each source covers: an authority’s conclusion, a research finding and a country’s legal permission answer different questions.
What this guide covers
- Selected research
- 1 source summaries, with publication dates and study types. Several publications may describe the same study population.
- Official assessment sources
- Commission-listed EFSA references for E472B. Bibliographic identity checked; latest findings and current use rules need separate review.
- Original ingredient record
- 4 research links; newest recorded date: . Sources added separately to this guide are not included in this count.
This guide brings together our ingredient record and the dated sources shown here. Missing information describes a gap in this guide; it does not mean an ingredient is untested, safe or harmful. This is not a complete review of every study, preparation or current country rule. The amount in a product and how it is used still matter.
How to read the ratings, research and country checksAgency labels recorded by EatMatrix
These are imported database classifications, not verified current statements from each authority. Use the dated official sources below for their actual scope and conclusions.
| Authority | Database label |
|---|---|
| FDA | Safe in moderation |
| WHO | Safe in moderation |
| EFSA | Safe in moderation |
| FSANZ | Safe in moderation |
| Japan | Safe in moderation |
| UK FSA | Safe in moderation |
| Health Canada | Safe in moderation |
Official assessment sources for E472B
The European Commission’s re-evaluation table lists official EFSA documents for this additive. Their identifiers and subjects were checked against publisher bibliographic records. A missing research link in the EatMatrix database does not mean the additive has never been assessed.
Name in the Commission table: Lactic acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids.
- Re‐evaluation of acetic acid, lactic acid, citric acid, tartaric acid, mono‐ and diacetyltartaric acid, mixed acetic and tartaric acid esters of mono‐ and diglycerides of fatty acids (E 472a‐f) as food additives
EFSA scientific opinion. Published: .
These are assessment references, including historical or group assessments. They do not establish the latest scientific conclusion, a human health benefit or risk, or current permission to use the additive in a particular food. Later assessments, corrections and food-use conditions need separate review. The recorded EatMatrix rating above is unchanged.
European Commission re-evaluation table, status as of . EatMatrix checked this bibliography on .
Database updated: . What does an E number mean on a food label?
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
What is EatMatrix's recorded rating for E472B?
The recorded EatMatrix rating for E472B (Lactic acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids) is “Safe in moderation”. It is calculated from labels stored in our ingredient database. These labels are not verified current regulator decisions or country permissions. A database update date is not a scientific review date.
Is E472B vegan, halal or gluten-free?
According to our ingredient data for Lactic acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids — vegan: depends on the source, vegetarian: depends on the source, halal: depends on the source, kosher: depends on the source, gluten-free: yes, dairy-free: yes. Manufacturing sources can vary between products; check the label if it matters to you.
What is E472B and why is it used?
Lactic acid esters of mono- and diglycerides (LACTEM) are emulsifiers formed from lactic acid and mono- or diglycerides of fatty acids. They are used mainly in margarine, coffee whiteners, and cake and bread products to stabilize emulsions and improve aeration and texture. Despite the name referencing lactic acid, they are not derived from milk and do not contain dairy protein or lactose. The fatty acid source can be plant or animal derived. They are considered safe for food use at typical levels.
Does E472B contain allergens?
No known allergens are recorded for Lactic acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids.
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This page shows information and classifications recorded in our ingredient database. Current scientific and market-specific verification remains pending as described above. It is general information, not medical advice.