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Typical source

Stearic acid (plant or animal)

Plain-language explanation

E491, or sorbitan monostearate, is a synthetic emulsifier made by reacting sorbitol, a sugar alcohol, with stearic acid, a fatty acid. Its halal status depends entirely on the source of the stearic acid; if it comes from a plant-based fat like palm oil, it is considered halal. However, if the stearic acid is derived from animal fat, it is haram unless the animal was slaughtered according to Islamic law. Due to this uncertainty, most major halal certification bodies require specific source verification to approve it.