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E470a – Sodium Salts of Fatty Acids

E470a refers to sodium salts of fatty acids, a food additive used as an emulsifier, stabiliser, and release agent in various food products.

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Things worth knowing about "E470a"

E470a refers to sodium salts of fatty acids, a food additive used as an emulsifier, stabiliser, and release agent in various food products.

What is E470a?

E470a is the EU approval code for sodium salts of fatty acids. These are compounds produced by reacting edible fatty acids (such as palmitic, stearic, or oleic acid) with sodium hydroxide. They are used in the food industry as technologically necessary additives and function similarly to soaps at a chemical level.

Production and Chemical Properties

E470a is produced by neutralising plant-based or animal-derived fatty acids with sodium hydroxide (caustic soda). The resulting compounds have both fat-soluble and water-soluble properties, a characteristic known as an amphiphilic structure. This dual nature makes them highly effective as emulsifiers, enabling the stable mixing of fat and water in food products.

Uses in Food

E470a is found in a wide range of food products. Common applications include:

Baked goods: As a release agent in baking moulds and to improve dough structure
Chewing gum: As a softener and carrier substance
Powdered products: To improve flowability and prevent clumping
Confectionery and chocolate: As an emulsifier for even fat distribution
Food supplements: As a separating and lubricating agent in tablet manufacturing

Technological Functions

As a food additive, E470a serves several technological purposes simultaneously:

Emulsifier: Improves the miscibility of fat and water in food
Stabiliser: Maintains the consistency and texture of products
Release agent: Prevents food from sticking to surfaces or processing equipment
Anti-caking agent: Keeps powders and granular products free-flowing

Safety and Regulatory Status

E470a is approved in the European Union under Regulation (EC) No. 1333/2008 on food additives. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has evaluated sodium salts of fatty acids and classified them as safe when used within the permitted quantities. Since the underlying fatty acids are naturally occurring components of normal dietary fats, E470a is metabolised by the human body in a manner similar to ordinary dietary fats.

No specific ADI (Acceptable Daily Intake) value has been established by EFSA for E470a, as the substance is considered safe and there is no evidence of toxic or carcinogenic effects.

Tolerability and Special Notes

E470a is well tolerated by most people. Individuals with fat malabsorption disorders or specific metabolic conditions should consider products containing this additive as part of their broader dietary management. Since E470a can be derived from either animal or plant-based fatty acids, vegans and vegetarians may wish to check the origin of the fatty acids used. However, this information is often not specified on product packaging.

Labelling Requirements

Under EU food law, E470a must be declared in the ingredient list of processed food products either by its E-number E470a or by its full name sodium salts of fatty acids.

References

European Food Safety Authority (EFSA): Re-evaluation of sodium, potassium and calcium salts of fatty acids (E 470a, b) as food additives. EFSA Journal, 2018.
Regulation (EC) No. 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on food additives.
Biesalski, H. K. et al.: Nutritional Medicine. Georg Thieme Verlag, 5th edition, Stuttgart, 2018.

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