Sucrose esters of fatty acids
E 473 · Sucroesters · SUCROSE ESTERS · Sucrose esters of fatty acids · Sugar esters · E473 · 473 · Sucrose esters of fatty acids · Sucrose fatty acid esters · Esteri ai zaharozei cu acizi grași · Esteri di saccarosio degli acidi grassi · ESTERI TAS-SUKROŻJU TAL-AĊIDI GRASSI · Esteri tas-sukrożju tal-aċidi xaħmin · ESTERS DE SACCHAROSE D’ACIDES GRAS · ESTERY SACHAROSY S MASTNÝMI KYSELINAMI · Estery sacharózy s mastnými kyselinami · ESTRY KWASÓW TŁUSZCZOWYCH I SACHAROZY · Estry sacharozy i kwasów tłuszczowych · Rasvahappojen sakkaroosiesterit · Rasvhapete sahharoosestrid · Riebalų rūgščių sacharozės esteriai · Saccharoseestere af fedtsyrer · Sacharózové estery mastných kyselín · Sackarosestrar av fettsyror · Saharozni esteri masnih kiselina · saharozni estri maščobnih kislin · Sucroesters d’acides gras · Sucrose esters of fatty acids · Sucrose-esters van vetzuren · Sucroésteres de ácidos grasos · Taukskābju saharozes esteri · Zsírsavak szacharóz-észterei · Zuckerester von Speisefettsäuren · Ésteres de sacarose de ácidos gordos · Εστέρες λιπαρών οξέων με σακχαρόζη · Естери на мастни киселини и захарозаE number E473INS 473
Listed as an emulsifier and a stabiliser by Canada, Codex and the US.
Listed as emulsifiers (CA, US, Codex) · stabilisers (CA, US, Codex) · thickeners (US) · glazing and surface-finishing agents (Codex) · foaming and whipping agents (Codex) · texturisers (US)
- Canada: Emulsifying agent — Health Canada, List of Permitted Emulsifying, Gelling, Stabilizing or Thickening Agents (List 4)
- Canada: Emulsifying or stabilizing agent — Health Canada, List of Permitted Emulsifying, Gelling, Stabilizing or Thickening Agents (List 4)
- United States: Emulsifier or emulsifier salt — FDA, Substances Added to Food: SUCROSE FATTY ACID ESTERS
- United States: Emulsifiers and emulsifier salts — 21 CFR 172.859, citing 21 CFR 170.3(o)(8)
- Codex Alimentarius: Emulsifier — CXS 192-1995 Table One, INS 473
- Canada: Emulsifying or stabilizing agent — Health Canada, List of Permitted Emulsifying, Gelling, Stabilizing or Thickening Agents (List 4)
- Canada: Stabilizing agent — Health Canada, List of Permitted Emulsifying, Gelling, Stabilizing or Thickening Agents (List 4)
- United States: Stabilizers and thickeners — 21 CFR 172.859, citing 21 CFR 170.3(o)(28)
- Codex Alimentarius: Stabilizer — CXS 192-1995 Table One, INS 473
- United States: Stabilizers and thickeners — 21 CFR 172.859, citing 21 CFR 170.3(o)(28)
- Codex Alimentarius: Glazing agent — CXS 192-1995 Table One, INS 473
- Codex Alimentarius: Foaming agent — CXS 192-1995 Table One, INS 473
- United States: Texturizer — FDA, Substances Added to Food: SUCROSE FATTY ACID ESTERS
- United States: Texturizers — 21 CFR 172.859, citing 21 CFR 170.3(o)(32)
Sucrose esters are emulsifiers built on a sugar backbone rather than glycerol, used in baked goods, dairy products and coatings for fresh fruit. Their properties can be tuned by how many fatty acids are attached.
Where it is and isn’t permitted
| Jurisdiction | Status | Scope and limits | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia and New Zealand | Permitted, with conditions | 55 food categories highest permitted level 100 mg/kg Show every food category
| Food Standards Code, Schedule 15, S15—5and 54 further provisionsretrieved 2026-10-17 |
| Canada | Permitted, with conditions | highest permitted level 5,000 % 8 permitted uses Show every permitted use
| Health Canada, List of Permitted Emulsifying, Gelling, Stabilizing or Thickening Agents (List 4)and 7 further provisionsretrieved 2026-10-17 |
| European Union | Permitted, with conditions | 34 food categories highest permitted level 50,000 mg/l Show every food category
| Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008and 33 further provisionsretrieved 2026-10-18 |
| Great Britain | Permitted, with conditions | 33 food categories highest permitted level 10,000 mg/kg or mg/l Show every food category
| Assimilated Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008and 32 further provisionsretrieved 2026-10-18 |
| Japan | Permitted, with conditions | Designated additive: Appended Table 1, item 228, ショ糖脂肪酸エステル (“Sucrose Esters of Fatty Acids” in the unofficial English translation). …Designated additive: Appended Table 1, item 228, ショ糖脂肪酸エステル (“Sucrose Esters of Fatty Acids” in the unofficial English translation). Standards for use — Specifications and Standards for Foods, Food Additives, etc. (MHW Notification No. 370 of 1959), Part II (Food Additives), F (Standards for use): The Notification sets no standard for use (使用基準) for this additive, so it is not restricted there to particular foods or amounts. Compositional specifications for this additive, in the same Notification, are not imported and are not shown here; nor are the general rules in F 添加物一般, which apply to every additive. | Regulations for Enforcement of the Food Sanitation Act (MHW Ordinance No. 23 of 1948), Appended Table 1retrieved 2026-10-18 |
| South Korea | No listing matchedThis site imports Part III of South Korea’s Standards and Specifications for Food Additives, matched by CAS number, then INS number, then exact name. Mixed preparations and sanitisers are not imported, and an entry whose identifiers disagreed with a page’s is held for review, so an empty row does not show that South Korea does not permit the substance. | ||
| United States | Permitted, with conditions | 21 CFR 172.859retrieved 2026-10-17 | |
| Codex Alimentarius | Permitted, with conditions | 55 food categories highest permitted level 20,000 mg/kg Show every food category and its notes
| CXS 192-1995 Table One, INS 473and 54 further provisionsretrieved 2026-09-07 |
How much is permitted
A listing usually limits the quantity as well as the food. Only one of the forms that takes is a figure: quantum satis and good manufacturing practice permit the amount the technological effect requires and no more, which is a limit rather than the absence of one. Figures below are the range across every food category this page is listed in, and categories differ between regulators — see how much is permitted.
| Australia and New Zealand | 100 mg/kg | 1 numeric limit, 54 GMP |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | 700 mg/kg – 20,000 mg/kg | 6 numeric limit, 1 GMP, 1 no quantity stated |
| European Union | 120 mg/kg – 50,000 mg/kg | 31 numeric limit, 3 quantum satis |
| Great Britain | 120 mg/kg – 10,000 mg/kg | 27 numeric limit, 3 several limits, 3 quantum satis |
| Japan | — | 1 no quantity stated |
| United States | — | 1 no quantity stated |
| Codex Alimentarius | 200 mg/kg – 20,000 mg/kg | 55 numeric limit |
GRAS notices to the FDA
A GRAS notice is a company’s conclusion that a substance is generally recognised as safe for the use it describes. FDA’s letter responds to that conclusion, for that notifier and that use. It is not a listing in 21 CFR, and it is not counted as a US permission above. The substance and use are as FDA’s inventory words them; this site matched the notice to this page by exact name.
GRN No. 1123 · Sucrose fatty acid esters · Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
Intended use: Intended for use as an emulsifier or stabilizer in chocolate and chocolate-containing products, including imitation and chocolate substitute products, at a maximum use level of 0.3%.
FDA’s response (2023-11-03): FDA has no questions
GRN No. 514 · Sucrose fatty acid esters · Sisterna B.V.
Intended use: For use as an emulsifier, stabilizer and diluent at levels ranging from 0.0003 to 2.9% in multiple food categories as described in the notice.
FDA’s response (2014-12-03): FDA has no questions
GRN No. 421 · Sucrose fatty acid esters · Libaeration Ltd.
Intended use: As surface-active agents (i.e., foaming agents) at a maximum level of 0.2 percent in foams produced using alcoholic beverages
FDA’s response (2012-08-10): FDA has no questions
GRN No. 129 · Sucrose fatty acid esters · Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
Intended use: Use as an emulsifier in beta-carotene, beta-apo-8-carotenal (apocarotenal), and canthaxanthin color additive preparations that will be added to beverages, crackers, soups and sauces
FDA’s response (2003-11-07): FDA has no questions
GRN No. 92 · Sucrose fatty acid esters · Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
Intended use: Use in beta carotene color preparations intended for use in orange-colored beverages such as soft drinks and juice beverages as an emulsifier at a maximum level of 2 per cent of the beta-carotene color preparation
FDA’s response (2002-02-04): Notice does not provide a basis for a GRAS determination
What it is made from
Made by esterifying sucrose with fatty acids. The sucrose comes from cane or beet; the fatty acids may be plant or animal in origin and are not usually declared.
- Vegan status depends on the source
- Vegetarian status depends on the source
- May raise a halal question
- May raise a kosher question
This is not an omission. What this additive is made from is not fixed — depending on the manufacturer it may be plant, animal or microbial in origin, nobody is required to say which, and the same product can change source between production runs. Ask the manufacturer if it matters to you; a label cannot answer it.
Compare other additives on the dietary indexes.
The two specifications, compared
The European Union sets identity and purity by regulation; JECFA publishes its own through FAO, advisory until a country adopts it. Both documents are below in full. These are the parameters each puts a number on.
| Parameter | European Union | JECFA |
|---|---|---|
| Assay | no less than 80 % | no less than 80 % |
| Sulphated ash | no more than 2 % | no more than 2 % |
| Lead | no more than 2 mg/kg | no more than 2 mg/kg |
| Arsenic | no more than 3 mg/kg | — |
| Mercury | no more than 1 mg/kg | — |
| Cadmium | no more than 1 mg/kg | — |
The two documents state the same figures for every parameter compared here.
How the EU defines it
The legal specification an additive must meet to be sold as this E number in the EU — what it is, how it may be made, and the purity it must reach. From Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012.
E 473 Sucrose esters of fatty acids
Essentially the mono-, di- and triesters of sucrose with fatty acids occurring in food fats and oils. They may be prepared from sucrose and the methyl, ethyl and vinyl esters of food fatty acids (including lauric acid) or by extraction from sucroglycerides. No organic solvent other than dimethylsulphoxide, dimethylformamide, ethyl acetate, propan-2-ol, 2-methyl-1-propanol, propylene glycol, methyl ethyl ketone and supercritical carbondioxide may be used for their preparation. p-methoxy phenol can be used as a stabiliser during the manufacturing procedure.
Synonyms: Sucroesters; Sugar esters
Assay, identification and purity criteria
Description and assay
- Assay
- Content not less than 80 %
- Description
- Stiff gels, soft solids or white to slightly greyish-white powders
Identification
- Test for sugar
- Passes test
- Test for fatty acids
- Passes test
- Solubility
- Sparingly soluble in water, soluble in ethanol
Purity criteria
- Sulphated ash
- Not more than 2 % (800 ± 25 °C)
- Free sugar
- Not more than 5 %
- Free fatty acids
- Not more than 3 % estimated as oleic acid
- p-methoxy-phenol
- Not more than 100 μg/kg
- Acetaldehyde
- Not more than 50 mg/kg
- Arsenic
- Not more than 3 mg/kg
- Lead
- Not more than 2 mg/kg
- Mercury
- Not more than 1 mg/kg
- Cadmium
- Not more than 1 mg/kg
- Methanol
- Not more than 10 mg/kg
- Dimethylsulphoxide
- Not more than 2 mg/kg
- Dimethylformamide
- Not more than 1 mg/kg
- 2-methyl-1-propanol
- Not more than 10 mg/kg
- Ethyl acetate
- [image] | Not more than 350 mg/kg, singly or in combination Propan-2-ol Propylene glycol
- Methyl ethyl ketone
- Not more than 10 mg/kg
How JECFA defines it
The international specification for identity and purity, prepared by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives and published by FAO. It is a different document from any above, written by a different body and revised on its own cycle; it is advisory, and a country adopts it or does not.
INS 473 Sucrose Esters of Fatty Acids
Mono-, di- and tri-esters of sucrose with food fatty acids, prepared from sucrose and methyl and ethyl esters of food fatty acids by esterification in the presence of a catalyst or by extraction from sucroglycerides. Only the following solvents may be used for the production: dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, ethyl acetate, isopropanol, propylene glycol, isobutanol and methyl ethyl ketone.
Synonyms: Sucrose fatty acid esters, INS No. 473 Sucrose fatty acid esters
Assay, identification and purity criteria
Description and assay
- Specification history
- 1 out of 9 Prepared at the 84th JECFA (2017) and published in FAO JECFA Monographs 20 (2017), superseding specifications prepared at the 73rd JECFA (2010) and published in FAO JECFA Monographs 10 (2010). An ADI of 0 - 30 mg/kg bw for this substance together with sucroglycerides, sucrose oligoesters type I and type II and sucrose monoesters of lauric, palmitic or stearic acid was established at the 73rd JECFA (2010).
- Assay
- Not less than 80% of sucrose esters
- DESCRIPTION
- White to greyish white or pale yellow powder, stiff gel or soft solid
- FUNCTIONAL USES
- Emulsifier
- METHOD OF ASSAY
- Determine by HPLC (Vol. 4) under the following conditions. Procedure Accurately weigh 250 mg of the sample into a 50-mL volumetric flask. Dilute to volume with tetrahydrofuran and mix. Filter through a 0.45 μm membrane filter. Inject 80 μl of the sample solution into the pre-stabilized chromatograph. Chromatography conditions - Column: Styrene-divinylbenzene copolymer for gel permeation chromatography (TSK-GEL G1000HXL, G2000HXL, G3000HXL, G4000HXL (each 30 cm x 7.8 mm i.d., 5 μm in series), Tosoh Co. or equivalent) - Mobile phase: HPLC-grade degassed tetrahydrofuran Flow rate: 0.8 mL/min - Detector: Refractive index - Temperatures: o Column: 40 o o Detector: 40 o - Record the chromatogram for about 50 min. Typical retention times under the above conditions are described in Table 1. The reference products are available from Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (Tokyo, Japan) or Dai-ichi Kogyo Seiyaku Co. Ltd (Kyoto, Japan) to confirm the retention time. 9 out of 9 Table 1. Typical retention time (min) of mono-, di- and tri-esters esterified with main fatty acids Esterified Mono- Di-esters Tri-esters fatty acid esters Lauric 40.0 38.2 37.0 acid Palmitic 39.3 37.2 36.0 acid Stearic 39.0 37.0 35.7 acid Oleic acid 39.1 37.1 35.9 Calculate the percentage of sucrose ester content in the sample from: % sucrose ester = 100 A/T Where - A is the sum of peak areas for the three main components, the mono-, di- and tri-esters; - T is the sum of all peak areas eluting within 43 min
Identification
- Solubility (Vol.4)
- Very soluble in ethanol at 50º
- Fatty acids
- Add 1 mL of ethanol to 0.1 g of the sample, dissolve by warming, add 5 mL of dilute sulfuric acid TS, heat in a water bath for 30 min and cool. A yellowish white solid or oil is formed, which has no odour of isobutyric acid, and which dissolves when 3 mL of diethyl ether are added. Use the aqueous layer separated from the diethyl ether in the Test for sugars.
- Sugars
- To 2 mL of the aqueous layer separated from the diethyl ether in the test for fatty acids, carefully add 1 mL of anthrone TS down the inside of a test tube; the boundary surface of the two layers turns blue or green. 2 out of 9
Purity criteria
- Sulfated ash (Vol.4)
- Not more than 2% Test 1 g of the sample (Method I)
- Acid value (Vol.4)
- Not more than 6
- Free sucrose
- Not more than 5% See description under TESTS
- Dimethylformamide
- Not more than 1 mg/kg See description under TESTS
- Dimethyl sulfoxide
- Not more than 2 mg/kg See description under TESTS
- Ethyl acetate, isopropanol and propylene glycol
- Not more than 350 mg/kg, singly or in combination See description under TESTS
- Isobutanol
- Not more than 10 mg/kg See description under TESTS
- Methanol
- Not more than 10 mg/kg See description under TESTS
- Methyl ethyl ketone
- Not more than 10 mg/kg See description under TESTS
- Lead (Vol.4)
- Not more than 2 mg/kg Determine using an AAS/ICP-AES technique appropriate to the specified level. The selection of sample size and method of sample preparation may be based on the principles of the methods described in Volume 4 (under “General Methods, Metallic Impurities”).
- Test: Free sucrose
- Determine by gas chromatography (Vol. 4) under the following conditions: Standard solutions Prepare a stock solution containing 5.0 mg/mL of sucrose in N,N- dimethylformamide. Prepare a range of standard solutions 3 out of 9 containing 0.5, 1.25 and 2.5 mg/mL of sucrose by dilutions of the stock solution with N,N-dimethylformamide. Internal standard solution Weigh accurately 0.25 g of octacosane into a 50-mL volumetric flask, add 25 mL of tetrahydrofuran to dissolve the octacosane, and add tetrahydrofuran to the mark. Chromatography conditions - Column: 100%-Dimethylpolysiloxane (30 m x 0.32 mm i.d. with 0.25 μm film) - Carrier gas: Helium - Flow rate: 1.5 mL/min - Detector: Flame-ionization detector (FID) - Temperatures: o injection port: 280 o o column: Hold for 1 min at 100 o , then 100-300 o at 12 o /min, hold for 45 min at 300 o o detector: 320 o The retention times of free sucrose and octacosane measured under the above conditions are approx. 18.8 and 19.3 min, respectively. Procedure: Weigh accurately 20-50 mg of the sample into a centrifugation tube, add 1 mL internal standard solution, 1 mL N,N-dimethylformamide, 0.4 mL of N,O- bis(trimethylsilyl)acetamide (BSA) and 0.2 mL trimethylchlorosilane (TMCS). After sealing the tube, shake and let stand for 5 min at room temperature Inject 1 μl into the chromatograph. Standard curve Prepare silylated standard solutions following the above procedure using 1 mL each of the standard solutions in place of the sample and N,N- dimethylformamide . Draw a standard curve by plotting amount of sucrose (mg) in 1 mL of the standard solution (X-axis) vs. ratio of peak area of sucrose/internal standard (Y-axis). Measure the peak areas for sucrose and internal standard. Calculate the ratio of their peak areas, and obtain the amount of sucrose from the standard curve. Calculate the percentage of free sucrose from: 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝑠𝑠𝑓𝑓 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 𝑓𝑓 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 𝑓𝑓 𝑑𝑑 𝑓𝑓𝑎𝑎𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑎𝑎 𝑑𝑑 𝑎𝑎𝑓𝑓 𝑑𝑑 ( 𝑎𝑎 𝑚𝑚 ) % 𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 𝑓𝑓 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 𝑓𝑓 = × 100 𝑤𝑤 𝑓𝑓𝑑𝑑𝑚𝑚 ℎ 𝑎𝑎 𝑠𝑠𝑓𝑓 𝑠𝑠 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 𝑓𝑓 ( 𝑎𝑎 𝑚𝑚 ) 4 out of 9
- Test: Dimethylformamide
- Determine by gas chromatography (Vol. 4) under the following conditions: Standard solutions Prepare a stock solution containing 1.00 mg/mL of dimethylformamide in tetrahydrofuran. Prepare a range of standard solutions containing 0.05, 0.1 and 0.2 μg/mL of dimethylformamide by diluting the stock solution with tetrahydrofuran Chromatography conditions - Column: Polyethylene glycol (30 m x 0.32 mm i.d. with a 0.5 μm film) - Carrier gas: Helium - Pressure: 150 kPa (constant pressure) - Detector: Nitrogen/phosphorus detector or thermionic specific detector) - Temperatures: o injection port: 180° column: Hold for 2 min at 40°, then 40-160° at 20°/min, hold for 2 min at 160° o detector: 325° - Injection method: Splitless injection of 1.0 μl with auto-injector, followed by start of purge after 1.0 min. The retention time of dimethylformamide measured under the above conditions is approx. 6.4 min. Procedure Weigh accurately 2 g of sample into a 20-mL volumetric flask, add 10 mL of tetrahydrofuran to dissolve the sample, add tetrahydrofuran to the mark, and mix the solution well. Inject 1.0 μl of the sample solution into the chromatograph. Standard curve Prepare daily by injecting 1.0 μl of each of the standard solutions into the chromatograph. Calculate the concentration of dimethylformamide in mg/kg (CDFA) from: 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 ( 𝑎𝑎 𝑚𝑚 / 𝑘𝑘 𝑚𝑚 ) = 𝐶𝐶 × 20/ 𝑊𝑊 where 5 out of 9 - C is dimethylformamide concentration determined (μg/mL); - W is weight of sample (g) Note: The column must be reconditioned frequently. Overnight reconditioning (flow carrier gas in the reverse direction at 180° without the connection of the detector) is required after about every 15 samples.
- Test: Dimethyl sulfoxide
- Determine by gas chromatography (Vol. 4) under the following conditions: Standard solutions Prepare a 0.25 mg/mL stock solution of dimethyl sulfoxide in tetrahydrofuran. Prepare a range of solutions containing 0.1, 0.2, 0.4 and 1.0 μg/mL of dimethyl sulfoxide by dilutions of the stock solution with tetrahydrofuran. Chromatography conditions - Column: 10% PEG 20M and 3% KOH on Chromosorb W AW DMCS 60/80 mesh (2 m x 3 mm i.d.) or equivalent. - Raise the oven temperature to 180 o at a rate of 10º/min and let stabilize for 24 to 48 h with 30 to 40 mL/min of nitrogen for conditioning - Carrier gas: Nitrogen - Flow rate: 30 mL/min - Detector: Flame photometric detector (using 394 nm sulfur filter) - Temperatures o injection port: 210 o o column: 160 o The retention time of dimethyl sulfoxide measured under the above conditions is approx. 3.4 min. Procedure Weigh accurately 5 g of the sample into a 25-mL volumetric flask, add 10 mL of tetrahydrofuran to dissolve the sample, add tetrahydrofuran to the mark, and mix the solution well. Inject 3 μl of the sample solution into the chromatograph.. Standard curve Prepare daily by injecting 3 μl of each of the standard solutions into the chromatograph. Calculate the concentration of dimethyl sulfoxide in mg/kg (CDMSO) from: 6 out of 9 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 ( 𝑎𝑎 𝑚𝑚 / 𝑘𝑘 𝑚𝑚 ) = 𝐶𝐶 × 25/ 𝑊𝑊 where - C is dimethyl sulfoxide concentration determined (μg/mL); - W is weight of sample (g).
- Test: Propylene glycol (Vol. 4)
- Determine by gas chromatography (Vol. 4) under the following conditions: Internal standard solution Prepare a 500 μg/mL solution of ethylene glycol in tetrahydrofuran. Standard solutions Prepare a range of standard solutions containing 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 μg/mL of propylene glycol with 5 μg/mL of ethylene glycol in tetrahydrofuran. Chromatography conditions - Column: Polydimethylsiloxane (30 m x 0.32 mm i.d with 0.25 μm film) - Carrier gas: Helium - Flow rate: 1.5 mL/min (Constant flow) - Detector: FID - Temperatures: o injection port: 230 o o column: Hold for 3 min at 40°, then 40-250° at 20°/min, hold for 5 min at 250° o detector: 270° The retention times of ethylene glycol and propylene glycol derivatives under the above conditions are approx. 7.6 min and 7.8 min, respectively. Procedure Weigh accurately 1 g of the sample into a 10-mL volumetric flask, and add 100 μl of the internal standard solution. Dissolve and make up to the volume with tetrahydrofuran. Take 0.5 mL of the sample solution in a centrifugation tube, and add 0.25 mL of 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) and 0.1 mL of trimethylchlorosilane (TMCS). After sealing the tube, shake it vigorously, let stand for 30 min at room temperature, then centrifuge. Inject 1.0 μl of the centrifugal supernatant into the chromatograph. 7 out of 9 Standard curve Prepare following the same procedure using 0.5 mL of the standard solutions in place of the sample solution. Calculate the concentration of propylene glycol in mg/kg (CPG) from: 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 ( 𝑎𝑎 𝑚𝑚 / 𝑘𝑘 𝑚𝑚 ) = 𝐶𝐶 × 10/ 𝑊𝑊 where - C is polyethylene glycol concentration determined (μg/mL); - W is weight of sample (g).
- Test: Methanol, isopropanol, isobutanol, ethyl acetate and methyl ethyl ketone
- Determined by gas chromatography (vol. 4) with a head space sampler under the following conditions. Standard solutions Prepare standard solution A containing 4000 mg/L each of methanol, isopropanol, isobutanol, ethyl acetate and methyl ethyl ketone by weighing accurately 0.2 g of each solvent into a 50-mL volumetric flask containing approx. 20 mL of water, then adding water to volume. By dilutions of this solution, prepare solutions containing 2000 mg/L (standard solution B) and 1000 mg/L (standard solution C). Procedure Weigh accurately 1 g of the sample into each of four sample vials. To one vial add 5 μl of water, to the second, third and fourth, add, respectively, standard solutions A, B and C, and seal them quickly with a septum. (The concentrations of each solvent after adding 5 μl of standard solutions A, B and C to 1g of the sample are equal to 20, 10 and 5 mg/kg of sample, respectively). Place the sample vials in a head space sampler and analyse using the following conditions: - Column: 100% Polydimethylsiloxane (30 m x 0.53 mm i.d. with 1.5 μm film: - Carrier gas: Nitrogen - Flow rate: 3.5 mL/min - Detector: FID o Temperatures o injection port: 110 o o column: 40 o o detector: 110 o - Head space sampler: o sample heat insulating temperature: 80 o o sample heat insulating period: 40 min o syringe temperature: 85 o o sample gas injection: 1.0 mL 8 out of 9 Calculation Plot the relationship between the added amounts against the peak area for each solvent using the analytical results. The relationship should be linear. Extrapolate and determine the x-intercept (wi), and calculate the solvent concentrations (Ci) in the sample from: 𝐶𝐶𝑖𝑖 ( 𝑎𝑎 𝑚𝑚 𝑘𝑘 ⁄ 𝑚𝑚 ) = 𝑤𝑤𝑖𝑖 ⁄ 𝑊𝑊 where - wi is x-intercept of relationship line using the standard addition method (μg) - W is weight of sample (g)
Authorised in other additives, enzymes, flavourings and nutrients
These authorisations are not for use in food. They let this substance be used inside another additive, a food enzyme, a flavouring or a nutrient preparation — often as a carrier — and it reaches food only as part of that product. Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008.
| Part | May be used in | Maximum level | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annex III, Part 1: Carriers in food additives | Colours and fat-soluble antioxidants | quantum satis | Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex III, Part 1 |
| Annex III, Part 2: Food additives other than carriers in food additives | Preparations of colours and fat soluble antioxidantsNote (1): Except enzymes authorised as food additives. | quantum satis | Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex III, Part 2 |
| Annex III, Part 3: Food additives including carriers in food enzymes | Food enzymesCan be used as a carrier: Yes, only as a carrier Note (1): Including enzymes authorised as food additives. | In enzyme preparation: 50 000 mg/kg In final food except beverages: 50 mg/kg In beverages: 25 mg/L | Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex III, Part 3 |
| Annex III, Part 4: Food additives including carriers in food flavourings | Flavourings for water based clear flavoured drinks that belong to category 14.1.4 | 15 000 mg/kg in flavourings, 30 mg/l in the final food | Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex III, Part 4 |
| Annex III, Part 5, Section A: Food additives added in nutrients except in nutrients intended to be used in foodstuffs listed in Part E, point 01.10, of Annex II and foodstuffs for infants and young children listed in Part E, point 13.1, of Annex II | In beta carotene, lutein, lycopene and vitamin E preparationsCan be used as a carrier: Yes | quantum satis | Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex III, Part 5, Section A |
| Annex III, Part 5, Section A: Food additives added in nutrients except in nutrients intended to be used in foodstuffs listed in Part E, point 01.10, of Annex II and foodstuffs for infants and young children listed in Part E, point 13.1, of Annex II | In vitamin A and D preparationsCan be used as a carrier: Yes | 2 mg/kg in final food | Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex III, Part 5, Section A |
Every name it appears under
36 recorded names. A label may use any of them.
E number
- E473
INS number
- 473
As it appears in regulation
- Sucrose esters of fatty acids
- Sucrose fatty acid esters
Other names
- E 473
- Sucroesters
- SUCROSE ESTERS
- Sucrose esters of fatty acids
- Sugar esters
The EU re-evaluation programme
Every additive authorised in the EU before 20 January 2009 was put back through EFSA by Commission Regulation (EU) No 257/2010, and this one is named in it. What the Regulation required is below; whether the opinion has since been published is not something this site records.
- Already re-evaluated when the programme began. Listed in Annex I as “Sucrose esters of fatty acids”, against the words “Re-evaluation completed on 23 November 2004; revised on 26 January 2006”, and therefore not re-evaluated again under it.
Hazard reference values
The two committees set different figures. EFSA's acceptable daily intake is 40 mg/kg bw/day; JECFA's is 30 mg/kg bw/day (1997). An acceptable daily intake is a reference value set by a committee, not a threshold above which harm begins. The lower figure is not a finding that the other body was wrong: the two work to different terms of reference, on their own timetables, and sometimes from different data. This site states both and chooses between them nowhere. See where the two committees differ.
| Type | Value | Population | Assessed by | Opinion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADI | 30 mg/kg bw/day | — | JECFA | 1997 |
| ADI | 40 mg/kg bw/day | consumers | EFSA | not identified in the dataset |
Evidence and how bodies read it
What assessing bodies concluded
Each conclusion is paraphrased in the body's own framing, from the published opinion linked beneath it. Where bodies differ, both stand; this site does not adjudicate between them or add a view of its own.
EFSA 2023
In a follow-up of earlier evaluations, the FAF Panel noted that sucrose esters of fatty acids (E 473) are not used in foods for infants below 16 weeks, so no assessment was made for that group. It found that updated exposure estimates exceeded the group ADI of 40 mg/kg bw/day for many population groups, and that technical data support amending the specifications.
Common questions
Assembled from what is above, in the words the questions are usually asked in. Each answer is the same statement the relevant section makes, with the same citations behind it.
- What is E 473?
- E 473 is Sucrose esters of fatty acids. Sucrose esters are emulsifiers built on a sugar backbone rather than glycerol, used in baked goods, dairy products and coatings for fresh fruit. Their properties can be tuned by how many fatty acids are attached.
- What is Sucrose esters of fatty acids used for in food?
- It is listed as an emulsifier and a stabiliser — the role Canada, Codex and the US assign it. This page shows every function each regulator records, with the citation for each.
- Where is Sucrose esters of fatty acids permitted?
- Of the seven regulators this site reads, Australia and New Zealand, Canada, the EU, Great Britain, Japan, the US and the Codex standard permit it. Each permission is for named foods at named levels, not a blanket one; the table on this page gives them with citations.
- Is Sucrose esters of fatty acids vegan?
- It depends on the source, and a label will not tell you. Sucrose esters of fatty acids can be made from plant or animal material, manufacturers are not obliged to say which, and the same product can change between production runs. Anyone who needs to know has to ask the manufacturer.
Sources for this page
- anz retrieved 2026-10-17
- ca retrieved 2026-10-17
- eu retrieved 2026-10-18
- gb retrieved 2026-10-18
- jp retrieved 2026-10-18
- ecfr retrieved 2026-10-17
- gsfa retrieved 2026-09-07
- euspecs retrieved 2026-10-18
- jecfaspecs retrieved 2026-09-23
Full licence terms and publisher details on Sources. How this page is built and updated: Method.
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