Food additive databaseemulsifierChecked 2026-10-02

Vegetable Sterol 植物性ステロール

Existing food additiveNot on the EU additive list

Purpose: emulsifier
On the label: “乳化剤” (emulsifier), “植物性ステロール” (plant sterol), “フィトステロール” (phytosterol), “ステロール” (sterol)
Name in the List of Existing Food Additives: 植物性ステロール (No. 151)
Source and production: Obtained from plant fats and oils (obtained by crushing and extracting oil seeds) by extraction with methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, ethyl acetate, acetone, or hexane. The main component is phytosterol, and there are high-free-form-concentration and low-free-form-concentration types.

In Japan

Its main component is phytosterol obtained from oil-seed fats and oils, and it is used as an emulsifier. There are no standards for use.
When used for emulsification, it can be labeled with the group name “乳化剤” (emulsifier). When written by substance name, the other name “フィトステロール” (phytosterol) and the simplified name “ステロール” (sterol) can also be used.

Japan's standards for use

There are no standards for use that limit which foods or how much (the general standards for all additives still apply).

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

In the EU

It is not on the EU list of food additives (Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II), so it cannot be used as a food additive in the EU.
What is on the EU list is plant sterols rich in stigmasterol (E499), a separate item that may be used only in alcoholic cocktails consumed frozen.

When it is labeled under a shared name

Vegetable Sterol 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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