Food additive databaseemulsifierChecked 2026-10-02

Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate ステアロイル乳酸ナトリウム

Designated additivePermitted in the EU (E481)EFSA ADI 20mg per kg body weight per day

Purpose: emulsifier
On the label: “乳化剤” (emulsifier), “ステアロイル乳酸Na” (sodium stearoyl lactylate), “ステアリル乳酸Na” (sodium stearyl lactylate), “ステアロイル乳酸塩（Ca、Na）” (stearoyl lactylates (Ca, Na))
Name in the List of Designated Additives: ステアロイル乳酸ナトリウム (No. 240)

In Japan

One of the emulsifiers. The standards for use set the foods it can be used in and the upper limits, for bread, confectionery, noodles and similar foods.
It follows the same standard as calcium stearoyl lactylate. When both are used, the total amount must stay within the limit.
It falls within the group name for emulsifiers and can be written as “乳化剤” (emulsifier). When written by substance name, the short names are “ステアロイル乳酸Na” and “ステアリル乳酸Na”. When used together with calcium stearoyl lactylate, the two can be written together as “ステアロイル乳酸塩（Ca、Na）” (stearoyl lactylates (Ca, Na)).

Japan's standards for use

The amount used is counted as calcium stearoyl lactylate. When used together with calcium stearoyl lactylate, the total amount must be within the following limits
Fresh confectionery (made from rice): 6.0 g/kg
Sponge cake, butter cake, steamed bread (mushipan): 5.5 g/kg
Noodles (excluding instant noodles and dried noodles): 4.5 g/kg as boiled noodles
Confectionery (made from wheat flour and baked or treated with fats and oils), bread, macaroni products (dried noodles): 4.0 g/kg
Steamed buns with filling (mushi-manju) (made from wheat flour): 2.0 g/kg
Mix powders: 10 g/kg for making fresh confectionery (rice), 8.0 g/kg for making sponge cake, butter cake and steamed bread, 5.5 g/kg for making confectionery (wheat flour, treated with fats and oils) and bread, 5.0 g/kg for making confectionery (wheat flour, baked), 2.5 g/kg for making steamed buns with filling

This is a summary of the standards for use. See the source list for the exact conditions.

In the EU

It is on the EU list of food additives (Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II) as E481.
In its 2013 evaluation, EFSA (the European Food Safety Authority) set an ADI (acceptable daily intake) of 20mg per kg of body weight per day (a group ADI, for the total of related substances) (EFSA ANS).

When it is labeled under a shared name

Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate may be declared on the label in the same way as “乳化剤”. See Emulsifier for details.

Sources

Checked 2026-10-02. Rules and evaluations change over time. This page is a translation of our Japanese page; if they differ, the Japanese page is the reference.

This page lists facts stated in laws and in evaluations by public bodies; it is not a safety verdict. Additives used in Japan are approved by the government, which sets the foods and amounts they can be used in. The ADI is a guide to the amount that is considered safe to take every day over a lifetime.

Other substances used as emulsifier

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