YenzoWhat is E494 (sorbitan monooleate)?
E494 stands for sorbitan monooleate. Appendix 1 of Circular 24/2019/TT-BYT lists these functions: emulsifier, stabilizer.
E494Sorbitan monooleate
E494 stands for sorbitan monooleate. Appendix 1 of Circular 24/2019/TT-BYT lists these functions: emulsifier, stabilizer.
- Code
- E494 · INS 494
- Group
- Emulsifier, Stabilizer
In Vietnam✓ PermittedOn the list of permitted additives — Circular 24/2019, Appendix 1
Risk level on the Yenzo Scalelow?Based on the Open Food Facts additives taxonomy
How E494 appears on labels
IngredientsIllustrative example
Wheat flour, vegetable oil, salt, sugar, emulsifier (494), dried onion and garlic, pepper, natural colour (160a).
emulsifier (494)emulsifier 494E494INS 494On Vietnamese labels: Sorbitan monooleat
Questions about sorbitan monooleate
Is sorbitan monooleate harmful?
In 2017, re-evaluating the sorbitan esters (E491–E495), EFSA set a group ADI of 10 mg/kg body weight per day, expressed as sorbitan, for these substances singly or in combination. EFSA concluded that mean and 95th percentile exposure did not exceed the ADI in any population group, and that there is no safety concern at the reported uses and use levels. The main contributors to exposure are bakery wares, desserts, chocolate, confectionery and fat emulsions.
Is E494 permitted in Vietnam?
Yes. INS 494 (sorbitan monooleate) is listed in Appendix 1 of Circular 24/2019/TT-BYT, the list of additives permitted in food.
Can children and pregnant women have E494?
In 2025, updating the exposure to sorbitan esters (E 491–495) with newer consumption surveys, EFSA found that the group ADI of 10 mg sorbitan/kg body weight per day was exceeded in toddlers and children at the 95th percentile (refined non-brand-loyal scenario) in a limited number of surveys. EFSA concluded that conservative assumptions clearly overestimated the exposure, so the exceedance is not of safety concern. The source says nothing specific about pregnant women. If you have a particular health condition, ask a doctor.
Other emulsifiers
E481Sodium stearoyl-2-lactylatelowE482Calcium stearoyl-2-lactylatelowE491Sorbitan monostearatelowE492Sorbitan tristearatelowE493Sorbitan monolauratelowE495Sorbitan monopalmitatelow
See all emulsifiers →Updated 21 October 2026
Sources (4)
- Open Food Facts additives taxonomy (Yenzo's table cites no EFSA opinion for this code). Open Food Facts additives taxonomy, https://github.com/openfoodfacts/openfoodfacts-server/blob/main/taxonomies/additives.txt (entry en:e494)
- Thông tư 24/2019/TT-BYT (văn bản hợp nhất 09/VBHN-BYT), Phụ lục 1
- EFSA Journal (2017). Re-evaluation of sorbitan monostearate (E 491), sorbitan tristearate (E 492), sorbitan monolaurate (E 493), sorbitan monooleate (E 494) and sorbitan monopalmitate (E 495) when used as food additives
- Scientific opinion on the safety of a proposed amendment of the conditions of use of the food additive sorbitan monostearate (E 491) in preparations of the food enzyme asparaginase