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Red List Additive

Mono- and Diglycerides (E471) — Red List

Mono- and diglycerides are emulsifiers and can be derived from various fats. They are permitted in the US and EU, with ongoing discussion about labeling and formulation.

Regulatory snapshot

United States
Allowed (GRAS) Classified as GRAS. A key concern is the potential for trace trans fats that do not require labeling.
European Union
Allowed Permitted but subject to periodic re-evaluation by EFSA to ensure technical specifications are met.
United Kingdom
Allowed Maintains the same standards as the EU framework for emulsifier safety.
Canada
Allowed Permitted in a wide variety of standardized and unstandardized foods.
Japan
Allowed Widely used and considered safe under Japanese food sanitation laws.

Statuses summarized from public regulatory documents as referenced in the PRūF report. Verify with official regulators for updates.

Why it is on the Red List

  • Discussion centers on potential trans fat contributions depending on source oils.
  • Emulsifier research increasingly examines gut barrier and microbiome effects.
  • Labeling rules may not always reflect trace trans fat contributions, which is a point of divergence between consumer health groups and regulators.

Related pages

Ingredient page: Mono- and Diglycerides (E471)Red List hubEmulsifiers categoryMixture Gap overviewRegulatory frameworks overview

Sources

  • PRūF Red Team Validation report — Internal synthesis provided by PRūF Labs (2025).

Summaries are educational and may be updated as regulations change.