Food use
Food-use source coverage is present in the current record.
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.
- beauty
- cleaning
- food
- industrial
Stearic acid
CAS 18639-67-3 · 40/100 · High conf.
Also registered as 18 other CAS numbers
8013-28-3 · 8023-06-1 · 8037-40-9 · 8037-83-0 · 8039-51-8 · 8039-52-9 · 8039-53-0 · 8039-54-1 · 39390-61-9 · 58392-66-8 · 82497-27-6 · 134503-33-6 · 197923-10-7 · 294203-07-9 · 294203-15-9 · 1245726-94-6 · 1429745-84-5 · 57-11-4
Concern score
40/100Moderate concern based on regulatory listings.
High confidence
Stearic acid in plain language
Also known as Purified stearic acid · Octadecanoic acid · Adeka sa 300 · Barolub fta · Century 1210 · Dervacid 3155
Show all 39 names
Hydrofol acid 150 · N-octadecanoic acid · Stearate · 1-Heptadecane carboxylic acid · 1-Heptadecanecarboxylic acid · 400JB9103-88 · Acide stearique · Adeka Fatty Acid SA 910 · Century 1240 · Cetylacetic acid · Formula 300 · Glycon DP · Glycon TP · Humko Industrene R · Hydrofol 1895 · Hystrene 7018 · Hystrene 9718 · Industrene R · Octadecansaeure · Pearl stearic · Stearex Beads · Stearinsaeure · Stearophanic acid · Vanicol · puro acido estearico · fatty acid · galoryl ath or 1-heptadecanecarboxylic acid · stearic acid (fatty acid) · stearic acid (vapor pressure 1.0 mm hg @ 20 c) · steric acid · Stearic acid (constituent of evening primrose oil) · Stearic acid (constituent of flax seed oil) · Stearic acid (constituent of saw palmetto)
Used in cosmetics as an emulsifier, a cleansing agent and a refatting agent.
- Emulsifying
- Cleansing
- Refatting
- Emulsion stabilising
- Fragrance
- Flavouring agent
- 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 8133 composition records across product categories including Construction and building materials, Furniture and furnishings, Home maintenance.
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. Stearic acid appears in these published regulatory listings.
- In marketed US drugs
- Inactive ingredient in US drugs
- Found in consumer products
- Beauty
- Cleaning
- Industrial
USFDAinactive ingredient database26 entries — 6 administration routes
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: CAPSULE, EXTENDED RELEASE; Maximum daily exposure: 64 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: EMULSION; Potency: NASource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: POWDER, FOR SUSPENSION; Potency: 1203 mg/5mlSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET; Maximum daily exposure: 336 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET, CHEWABLE; Maximum daily exposure: 180 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET, COATED; Potency: 42.4 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET, DELAYED RELEASE; Maximum daily exposure: 80 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET, EXTENDED RELEASE; Maximum daily exposure: 200 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET, FILM COATED; Maximum daily exposure: 176 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET, FILM COATED, EXTENDED RELEASE; Maximum daily exposure: 120 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET, ORALLY DISINTEGRATING; Maximum daily exposure: 10 mgSource →
- Route: SUBCUTANEOUS; Dosage form: IMPLANT; Potency: 1.04 mgSource →
- Route: SUBCUTANEOUS; Dosage form: PELLET; Potency: 0.97 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: CAPSULE; Maximum daily exposure: 90 mgSource →
- Route: TOPICAL; Dosage form: AEROSOL, FOAM; Potency: 8 %w/wSource →
- Route: TOPICAL; Dosage form: CREAM; Maximum daily exposure: 190 mgSource →
- Route: TOPICAL; Dosage form: EMULSION; Potency: NASource →
- Route: TOPICAL; Dosage form: LOTION; Maximum daily exposure: 80 mgSource →
- Route: TOPICAL; Dosage form: OINTMENT; Potency: 15 %w/wSource →
- Route: TOPICAL; Dosage form: SHAMPOO; Potency: 9.7 %w/wSource →
- Route: TOPICAL; Dosage form: SOAP; Potency: 6 %w/wSource →
- Route: TOPICAL; Dosage form: SOLUTION; Potency: NASource →
- Route: VAGINAL; Dosage form: AEROSOL, FOAM; Potency: 4 %w/wSource →
- Route: VAGINAL; Dosage form: CREAM; Maximum daily exposure: 1088 mgSource →
- Route: BUCCAL; Dosage form: TABLET; Potency: 6 mgSource →
- Route: SUBLINGUAL; Dosage form: TABLET; Potency: 9 mgSource →
EUCosIngActiveListed in CosIng inventory for cosmetic use.
- Listed in CosIng inventory for cosmetic use.Source →
EUEFSAEFSA opinionScientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate (E 481) and calcium stearoyl-2-lactylate (E 482) as food additives (EFSA ANS)
- Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate (E 481) and calcium stearoyl-2-lactylate (E 482) as food additives (EFSA ANS)Source →
GLOBALJECFANo safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agentJECFA evaluation lists ADI No safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agent. Functional class: flavouring agent.
- JECFA evaluation lists ADI No safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agent. Functional class: flavouring agent.Source →
USEPAcommercial use observedEPA CPDat observed this chemical in 8133 composition records across product categories including Construction and building materials, Furniture and furnishings, Home maintenance. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Emulsifier, Processing aids not otherwise specified, Surfactant (surface active agent).
- EPA CPDat observed this chemical in 8133 composition records across product categories including Construction and building materials, Furniture and furnishings, Home maintenance. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Emulsifier, Processing aids not otherwise specified, Surfactant (surface active agent).Source →
USFDAmarketed drug occurrenceFDA NDC lists this ingredient in 2 active drug products and 3 total products.
- FDA NDC lists this ingredient in 2 active drug products and 3 total products.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
Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate (E 481) and calcium stearoyl-2-lactylate (E 482) as food additives (EFSA ANS)
2013 · EU EFSA listing · Read the source →
JECFA
Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives
JECFA evaluation lists ADI No safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agent. Functional class: flavouring agent.
Year not recorded · GLOBAL JECFA listing · Read the source →
Evidence & sources
No graded research studies for Stearic acid yet. This record is compiled from the published data sources below — registries and regulatory listings, not study findings.
Where this comes from
- Open →
CosIng
regulatory · updated 2026-09-23
- Open →
EFSA OpenFoodTox
regulatory · updated 2026-10-04
- Open →
EPA Chemical and Products Database
exposure · updated september 30, 2011
- Open →
EPA DSSTox Identifiers
chemistry · updated 2025-12-29
- Open →
FDA Inactive Ingredient Database
regulatory · updated 2026-01-09
- Open →
FDA National Drug Code Directory
regulatory · updated 2027-10-13
- 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 →
PubChem Live Enrichment
chemistry · updated 2026-05-17
Suitability
Context-specific fit derived from published classifications and the current ingredient evidence profile.
Good fit
Fragrance avoidance
Not a strong fit for fragrance avoidance because it carries Fragrance.
The ingredient itself is a fragrance-linked signal, so it is better treated as an avoid case when fragrance exposure is the main concern.
Where it has been recorded
How often EPA CPDat has listed Stearic acid in a product composition. These are source records, not Greenveil catalog products.
Source records
8,133
Named organisations
6
Construction and building materialsFurniture and furnishingsHome maintenanceSpecialty occupational productsRaw materialsPersonal care
Typical roles
EmulsifyingCleansingRefattingEmulsion stabilisingFragranceFlavouring agent
Found in these products
Their ingredient lists include Stearic acid; each product's own rating depends on its whole formula, so it is shown on the product page, not here.
- novobacp.n.f · Novobac
- Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Black MascaraEssence · Makeup
- idéal soleilVichy · Non Food Products
- حليب لليدينLait Corporle
- neutrogena creme mainNeutrogena, Freeos · Plant Based Foods And Beverages
- CeraVe SPF50 Hydraterende Gezichtscrèmecerave · Beauty
- Dove pamperingUnilever · Cosmetic Products
- Crème mains hydratante concentrée Formule NorvégienneNeutrogena · Body
- Refreshing beauty cream barDove
- Chargement…Non Food Products
- Beauty cream bardove,unilever · Soap
- Deo stick for men sportTulipán Negro · Cosmetica
- VaselineOpen Beauty Facts
- TopicremTopicrem
- Déodorant Stick Homme Peau SensibleWilliams,Williams Expert,Unilever · Hygiene
- Vaseline Intensive Care Aloë Soothe BodylotionUnilever, Vaseline · Bodylotion
- Crème Mains ApaisanteNivea · Open Beauty Facts
- Vaseline Intensive Care Essential Healing BodylotionUnilever, Vaseline · Bodylotion
- Vaseline Intensive Care Essential Healing BodylotionUnilever, Vaseline · Bodylotion
- Crème pieds très secs et abîmésNeutrogena · Body
- Booster your barrierBioma
- HidratanteDeliplus · Cosmetic Products
- Acne Foaming WashPanoxyl · Non Food Products
- Chargement…
Often appears with
Ingredients that frequently appear alongside Stearic acid in the catalog.