Sorbitan tristearate
Function: Emulsifier
E492 is the European food-additive number for Sorbitan tristearate, an emulsifier — helps ingredients that normally separate, like oil and water, stay mixed. Sorbitan tristearate (E492) is an emulsifier used as a food additive.
What is E492 used for?
Sorbitan tristearate (E492) 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 E492 safe or restricted?
E492 is approved for use in the EU. It sits among the additives EFSA keeps under ongoing review as new evidence is published. Forkin classifies it as “Under monitoring” 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 E492 vegan or vegetarian?
Sorbitan tristearate (E492) 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 E492?
E492 appears in 620 of the 4.7 million products in Forkin's catalogue — most often in chocolate candy, cakes and wafers.
- Chocolate Candy74
- Cakes73
- Wafers28
- Pastry23
- Milk Chocolate20
- Sweet Pastries19
- Chocolate Truffles / Pralines18
- Candy & Sweets17
Often appears alongside
Additives most frequently found in the same ingredient lists as E492 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 E492
- What is E492?
- E492 is the E-number for Sorbitan tristearate, an emulsifier — helps ingredients that normally separate, like oil and water, stay mixed. Sorbitan tristearate (E492) is an emulsifier used as a food additive.
- What is E492 used for?
- Sorbitan tristearate (E492) 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 E492?
- E492 appears in 620 of the 4.7 million products in Forkin's catalogue — most often in chocolate candy, cakes and wafers. Scan any barcode with the Forkin app to see instantly whether a specific product contains it.
- Is E492 vegan or vegetarian?
- Sorbitan tristearate (E492) 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 E492 safe, and is it banned anywhere?
- E492 is approved for use in the EU. It sits among the additives EFSA keeps under ongoing review as new evidence is published. Forkin classifies it as "Under monitoring" 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 E492 — acceptable daily intake (ADI), restrictions by country, vegan/vegetarian status, alternative names, and which products in your scan history contain it. See view pricing.