What is E473?
Emulsifying agents made from sucrose and fatty acids, used in specified food applications where the food category, specifications and use conditions permit them. Goodnessly rates E473 Safe, while food-category permissions and regulator conditions still apply.
Emulsifying agents made from sucrose and fatty acids, used in specified food applications where the food category, specifications and use conditions permit them. Check the food category, amount and full formulation rather than judging one ingredient in isolation.
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Read the FAQ →
What is Sucrose esters of fatty acids?
Sucrose esters of fatty acids is Emulsifying agents made from sucrose and fatty acids, used in specified food applications where the food category, specifications and use conditions permit them. Its function depends on the formulation and the conditions attached to the permitted use.
What's it used for?
- Helping oil and water phases stay mixed
- Supporting texture in specified formulations
- Dispersing ingredients through a food matrix
- Working within category-specific use conditions
Where you'll find E473 on the shelf
You may see E473 in foods where an emulsifier is useful and the food category permits sucrose esters of fatty acids.
Is E473 permitted? What the regulators say
Sucrose esters of fatty acids is listed in the checked AU/NZ and EU frameworks with conditions. Permission is conditional: category, level, identity and specifications matter.
| Region | Status | What this means |
|---|---|---|
| AU/NZ Australia & New Zealand (FSANZ) | Permitted with conditions | FSANZ lists 473 for specified food uses in the Food Standards Code. [FSANZ source] |
| EU European Union (EUR-Lex) | Authorised with conditions | The consolidated Union list includes E473 for specified categories and conditions. [EUR-Lex source] |
| US United States (FDA) | Permitted with conditions | FDA lists sucrose fatty acid esters for specified food uses under 21 CFR 172.859. [FDA source] |
Goodnessly rates E473 Safe within its rating system. The rating does not remove the need to consider the product category, amount or full formulation.
- The checked primary sources frame E473 through permitted uses, specifications and category conditions rather than a new change notice for this draft. Re-check the current sources when a product or formulation is unusual.
- Regulatory permissions can change; confirm the primary source when a product, recipe or use is unusual.
This section is checked periodically rather than continuously — confirm the current primary source before relying on a regulatory detail.
Who might want to limit or avoid it
- People comparing additive functions across products
- People checking the frequency of this ingredient in their usual foods
- People who want to consider the whole formulation and serving pattern
Goodnessly rates E473 Safe as a practical prompt to understand the ingredient, the product and the overall formulation.
How to spot it on a label
Look for:
- Sucrose esters of fatty acids
- 473
- E473
- Sucrose fatty acid esters
Ingredient labels may use the name, the number, or the additive class followed by the number.
Related additives
Frequently asked questions
What is E473?
E473 is Sucrose esters of fatty acids, Emulsifying agents made from sucrose and fatty acids, used in specified food applications where the food category, specifications and use conditions permit them.
Is E473 permitted?
E473 is listed with conditions in Australia/New Zealand and the EU. FDA lists sucrose fatty acid esters for specified food uses under 21 CFR 172.859.
What should I know about sucrose esters of fatty acids?
The checked primary sources frame E473 through permitted uses, specifications and category conditions rather than a new change notice for this draft. Re-check the current sources when a product or formulation is unusual.
How does Goodnessly rate E473?
Goodnessly rates E473 (Sucrose esters of fatty acids) as Safe within its rating system.
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