Sorbitan trioleate
Function: Emulsifiers
E496 is the European food-additive number for Sorbitan trioleate, an emulsifier — helps ingredients that normally separate, like oil and water, stay mixed. Sorbitan trioleate (E496) is a food additive used as a food additive.
What is E496 used for?
Sorbitan trioleate (E496) is an emulsifier — helps ingredients that normally separate, like oil and water, stay mixed. It is added during food production for a technological purpose rather than for nutrition. See all Emulsifiers (E-numbers).
Is E496 safe or restricted?
E496 is an approved food additive in the EU and currently carries no special regulatory restrictions in the EU additive register. Forkin classifies it as “No known concern” and does not make health claims. See the methodology for how regulatory levels are assigned, or the guide to how EU additives are approved, re-evaluated and banned.
Is E496 vegan or vegetarian?
Sorbitan trioleate (E496) can be produced from plant, mineral, or animal-derived raw materials, and the ingredient list rarely states which source was used — so its vegan status genuinely depends on the specific product.
The production source can vary between manufacturers — the Forkin app shows the verified vegan and vegetarian status per product. Always read the label for allergens.
Which foods contain E496?
E496 appears in 25 of the 4.7 million products in Forkin's catalogue — most often in Candy & Sweets, Cakes, and Cream-Filled Cookies.
- Candy & Sweets3
- Cakes2
- Cream-Filled Cookies2
- Chocolate2
- Chocolate Candy1
- Chocolate Spread1
- Sandwiches1
- Sweet Pastries1
Often appears alongside
Additives most frequently found in the same ingredient lists as E496 across the catalogue.
Counts reflect Forkin's independently enriched product catalogue and update as new products are added — they are not a market-share statistic.
Frequently asked questions about E496
- What is E496?
- E496 is the E-number for Sorbitan trioleate, an emulsifier — helps ingredients that normally separate, like oil and water, stay mixed. Sorbitan trioleate (E496) is a food additive used as a food additive.
- What is E496 used for?
- Sorbitan trioleate (E496) is an emulsifier — helps ingredients that normally separate, like oil and water, stay mixed. Manufacturers add it during processing rather than for nutrition. The Forkin app shows which products in your scan history actually contain it.
- Which foods contain E496?
- E496 appears in 25 of the 4.7 million products in Forkin's catalogue — most often in Candy & Sweets, Cakes, and Cream-Filled Cookies. Scan any barcode with the Forkin app to see instantly whether a specific product contains it.
- Is E496 vegan or vegetarian?
- Sorbitan trioleate (E496) can be produced from plant, mineral, or animal-derived raw materials, and the ingredient list rarely states which source was used — so its vegan status genuinely depends on the specific product. The Forkin app shows the verified vegan and vegetarian status per product, since the source can vary between manufacturers.
- Is E496 safe, and is it banned anywhere?
- E496 is an approved food additive in the EU and currently carries no special regulatory restrictions in the EU additive register. Forkin classifies it as ‘No known concern’ and does not make health claims — see the methodology page for how regulatory levels are assigned, and the Forkin app for the full profile, including acceptable daily intake (ADI) and restrictions by country.
See the full profile in Forkin
The Forkin app surfaces the full regulatory profile of E496 — acceptable daily intake (ADI), restrictions by country, vegan and vegetarian status, alternative names, and which products in your scan history contain it. See view pricing.