Mono- and diglycerides (E471)
Fat-based emulsifiers that keep oil and water mixed. They can come from plant or animal fat, and the label almost never says which.
Also labelled as: Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids, Monoglycerides, Diglycerides, Glycerides, E471.
What it is
Mono- and diglycerides are emulsifiers made by rearranging fats and oils with glycerol. They stop bread staling, keep ice cream smooth, and hold margarine and coffee creamer together. They are one of the most widely used additives in processed food.
Why the source matters
The starting fat can be soybean, palm, canola, or an animal fat such as tallow or lard. The finished emulsifier is chemically the same either way, and the ingredient name does not encode the origin. For halal, kosher, and vegetarian shoppers this is one of the most common sources of genuine uncertainty in an otherwise plant-based product.
Mono- and diglycerides by dietary profile
| Profile | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Halal | Depends on the source | Plant-derived material is acceptable. Porcine-derived material is not, and tallow depends on the animal and its slaughter. Certification resolves it where the label cannot. |
| Kosher | Depends on the source | Source determines status, and animal-derived glycerides also raise meat and dairy separation questions. Look for a hechsher. |
| Vegetarian | Depends on the source | Suitable when plant-derived. Tallow-derived and lard-derived material is not. |
| Vegan | Depends on the source | Only plant-derived material qualifies, and the label rarely states the source. |
| Pescatarian | Depends on the source | Same position as vegetarian, resting on the fat source. |
| Hindu vegetarian | Depends on the source | Plant-derived material is acceptable. Tallow-derived material is not, and beef tallow carries additional significance. |
Related: Is E471 halal? answers that question on its own page, with what to look for on a package and where authorities differ.
How to spot it on a label
- Mono- and diglycerides, or E471 on EU and UK labels.
- Vegetable mono- and diglycerides states the source, which is the helpful case.
- A vegan or vegetarian certification mark implies a plant source.
- Common in bread, ice cream, margarine, coffee creamer, and chewing gum.
What PlatePal cannot determine
Known limits for mono- and diglycerides
- Whether the parent fat was plant or animal, when the label says only E471.
- Whether a supplier changed fat source between production runs.
- Whether a product certified in one market uses the same source in another.
When any of these apply, PlatePal returns Insufficient data rather than a guess. A scan that says it does not know is doing its job.
Sources
Regulations change and authorities differ. This page is general information, not a religious or medical ruling. Last reviewed 2026-09-12.
Related ingredients
- Gelatin: A collagen protein set from animal hide and bone. Whether it fits your diet depends entirely on which animal it came from, and labels rarely say.
- Carmine: A red colour made from cochineal insects. It must be named on US labels, which makes it one of the easier additives to spot.
- Rennet: The enzyme that curdles milk into cheese. It can be animal, microbial, or fermentation-produced, and Enzymes on a label tells you nothing about which.
Back to the ingredient guide, or see how PlatePal checks a whole product with the halal, kosher, and allergen scanners.