Polyoxyethene 40 stearate (E431) is an emulsifier.
An artificial compound, made from ethylene oxide (an artificial compound) and stearic acid (a natural fatty acid).
It is mainly used in baking, puddings, etc.
The daily norm is up to 25 mg per 1 kg of weight for the group of compounds E430–E436, for individual compounds the norm is not defined.
Side effects in the concentrations used are unknown. People with propylene glycol intolerance should avoid the use of the E430–E436 group of supplements.
These compounds (E430–E436) contain fatty acids, which are almost always obtained from vegetable oils; however, the use of animal fat (including pork) is not excluded. It is not possible to determine the chemical origin of the compounds; this data can only be provided by the manufacturer.