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Sorbitan monostearate

CAS 56940-43-3 · 40/100 · High conf.

Also registered as 7 other CAS numbers

58052-16-7 · 64772-18-5 · 76011-53-5 · 76169-00-1 · 107461-71-2 · 1051378-63-2 · 1338-41-6

Sorbitan monostearate chemical structure

Concern score

40/100Moderate concern based on regulatory listings.
High confidence

Sorbitan monostearate in plain language

What it is

On cosmetic ingredient lists it appears as “Sorbitan stearate”.

Also known as Sorbitan stearate · Anhydrosorbitol stearate · Sorbitan tristearate · 1,4-ANHYDRO-D-GLUCITOL, 6-OCTADECANOATE · Anhydrosorbitol monostearate · Lipsorb s

Show all 18 names

Sorbitan, esters, monooctadecanoate · Monooctadecanoate sorbitan · Arlacel 60 · Armotan MS · Dehymul SMS · Disponil SMS · E-491 · Glycomul s · Ins NO.491 · INS-491 · Span 60 · Stearic acid, monoester with sorbitan

What it does

Used in cosmetics as an emulsifier.

  • Emulsifying
  • Emulsifier
  • Surfactant
  • Humectant
  • Thickener
  • Solvent
Is it a concern?
Moderate concern: no hazard classifications on record. It is listed for cosmetic use in the EU.

Why it's flagged

EPA CPDat observed this chemical in 5 composition records across product categories including Cleaning and safety, Personal care.

The score describes this ingredient's chemical identity — its hazard profile from published classifications and regulatory status — not the safety of any product it appears in.

Regulation

No restrictions found. Sorbitan monostearate appears in these published regulatory listings.

  • Inactive ingredient in US drugs

Recorded in these product areas

  • Found in consumer products
  • Beauty
  • Cleaning
  • Industrial
  • USFDAinactive ingredient database11 entries — 3 administration routes
    • Route: TOPICAL; Dosage form: AEROSOL, FOAM; Potency: 0.55 %w/wSource →
    • Route: TOPICAL; Dosage form: CREAM; Maximum daily exposure: 86 mgSource →
    • Route: TOPICAL; Dosage form: LOTION; Maximum daily exposure: 89 mgSource →
    • Route: TOPICAL; Dosage form: OINTMENT; Potency: NASource →
    • Route: TOPICAL; Dosage form: SOLUTION; Potency: NASource →
    • Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET; Maximum daily exposure: 4 mgSource →
    • Route: TOPICAL; Dosage form: SUSPENSION; Potency: 2.15 %w/wSource →
    • Route: VAGINAL; Dosage form: CREAM; Maximum daily exposure: 100 mgSource →
    • Route: VAGINAL; Dosage form: SUPPOSITORY; Potency: NASource →
    • Route: ORAL; Dosage form: SUSPENSION; Potency: 62.5 mg/5mlSource →
    • Route: TOPICAL; Dosage form: SPRAY; Potency: 4.58 %w/wSource →
  • EUCosIngActiveSorbitan stearate
  • EUEFSAEFSA opinionRe-evaluation of sorbitan monostearate (E 491), sorbitan tristearate (E 492), sorbitan monolaurate (E 493), sorbitan monooleate (E 494) and sorbitan monopalmitate (E 495) when used as food additives (EFSA ANS)
    • Re-evaluation of sorbitan monostearate (E 491), sorbitan tristearate (E 492), sorbitan monolaurate (E 493), sorbitan monooleate (E 494) and sorbitan monopalmitate (E 495) when used as food additives (EFSA ANS)Source →
  • GLOBALJECFA0-25 mg/kg bwJECFA evaluation lists ADI 0-25 mg/kg bw. Functional class: emulsifier.
    • JECFA evaluation lists ADI 0-25 mg/kg bw. Functional class: emulsifier.Source →
  • USEPAcommercial use observedEPA CPDat observed this chemical in 5 composition records across product categories including Cleaning and safety, Personal care. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Emulsifier, anti-fogging agent, Surfactant (surface active agent).
    • EPA CPDat observed this chemical in 5 composition records across product categories including Cleaning and safety, Personal care. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Emulsifier, anti-fogging agent, Surfactant (surface active agent).Source →
  • USFDAlisted in openFDA substanceopenFDA substance registry classifies this ingredient as chemical.
    • openFDA substance registry classifies this ingredient as chemical.Source →

Expert safety opinions

Independent scientific assessments cited by the records we hold, with the year and link where the record gives one.

  • SCCS

    EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety

    No SCCS opinion on file.

  • CIR

    Cosmetic Ingredient Review (US expert panel)

    No CIR safety assessment on file.

  • EFSA

    European Food Safety Authority

    • Re-evaluation of sorbitan monostearate (E 491), sorbitan tristearate (E 492), sorbitan monolaurate (E 493), sorbitan monooleate (E 494) and sorbitan monopalmitate (E 495) when used as food additives (EFSA ANS)

      2017 · EU EFSA listing · Read the source →

  • JECFA

    Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives

    • JECFA evaluation lists ADI 0-25 mg/kg bw. Functional class: emulsifier.

      Year not recorded · GLOBAL JECFA listing · Read the source →

Evidence & sources

No graded research studies for Sorbitan monostearate yet. This record is compiled from the published data sources below — registries and regulatory listings, not study findings.

8 data sources

Where this comes from

  • CosIng

    regulatory · updated 2026-09-23

    Open →

  • EFSA OpenFoodTox

    regulatory · updated 2026-10-04

    Open →

  • EPA Chemical and Products Database

    exposure · updated may 31, 2015

    Open →

  • EPA DSSTox Identifiers

    chemistry · updated 2025-12-29

    Open →

  • FDA Inactive Ingredient Database

    regulatory · updated 2026-01-09

    Open →

  • FDA GSRS UNII

    registry · updated 2026-02-26

    Open →

  • WHO JECFA Database

    regulatory · updated 2026-10-04

    Open →

  • openFDA Substance

    registry · updated 2026-05-24

    Open →
Reference links (1)
Openfda substance

codexalimentarius.net

Read →

Suitability

Context-specific fit derived from published classifications and the current ingredient evidence profile.

Food use

Food-use source coverage is present in the current record.

Good fit

The ingredient appears in food-oriented source coverage or allowed-use references, which makes food use easier to support than a context with no domain signal at all.

Fragrance avoidance

No fragrance-linked caution surfaced in the current profile.

Good fit

This ingredient does not currently read as a fragrance-linked driver in the published evidence and hazard profile.

Where it has been recorded

How often EPA CPDat has listed Sorbitan monostearate in a product composition. These are source records, not Greenveil catalog products.

Source records

5

Named organisations

6

Cleaning and safetyPersonal care

Typical roles

EmulsifyingEmulsifierSurfactantHumectantThickenerSolvent
See products using Sorbitan monostearate →

Catalog

Found in these products

Their ingredient lists include Sorbitan monostearate; each product's own rating depends on its whole formula, so it is shown on the product page, not here.

See all 210 →Find products without it →