Sorbitan monopalmitate (SMP) is a food additive, permitted by the EU. It is entry E495 in the

E number E numbers ("E" stands for "Europe") are codes for substances used as food additives, including those found naturally in many foods such as vitamin C, for use within the European Union (EU) and European Free Trade Association (EFTA). Commonly ...

list of permitted food additives. It is also known under the trade name Span 40.

Synopsis

Sorbitan monopalmitate has been known since at least 1959. Around 2000, SMP was permitted by the EU in bakery products, icings, marmalades, simulations of milk and cream, beverage whiteners, liquid concentrates of fruit and herbs, sorbets, emulsified sauces, food supplements and chewing gum amongst others. SMP is a

polysorbate Polysorbates are a class of emulsifiers used in some pharmaceuticals and food preparation. They are commonly used in oral and topical pharmaceutical dosage forms. They are also often used in cosmetics to solubilize essential oils into water-based ...

that is derived from the mixture of partial

ester In chemistry, an ester is a compound derived from an oxoacid (organic or inorganic) in which at least one hydroxyl group () is replaced by an alkoxy group (), as in the substitution reaction of a carboxylic acid and an alcohol. Glycerides ar ...

s of

sorbitol Sorbitol (), less commonly known as glucitol (), is a sugar alcohol with a sweet taste which the human body metabolizes slowly. It can be obtained by reduction of glucose, which changes the converted aldehyde group (−CHO) to a primary alcohol g ...

treated with

palmitic acid Palmitic acid (hexadecanoic acid in IUPAC nomenclature) is a fatty acid with a 16-carbon chain. It is the most common saturated fatty acid found in animals, plants and microorganisms.Gunstone, F. D., John L. Harwood, and Albert J. Dijkstra. The Li ...

. SMP is a lipophilic

surfactant Surfactants are chemical compounds that decrease the surface tension between two liquids, between a gas and a liquid, or interfacial tension between a liquid and a solid. Surfactants may act as detergents, wetting agents, emulsifiers, foaming ...

. It may be found in combination with polysorbates. It is used to modify crystallisation of fats. It is insoluble in water. Up to 25 mg/kg bodyweight can be processed by humans. SMP is metabolized to

and

, without any apparent side effects. The use of animal fats, like pork, in the production of SMP is possible.

References

{{reflist E-number additives Edible thickening agents Fatty acid esters Food stabilizers Palmitate esters