E471: Mono- & Diglycerides of Fatty Acids (Bread Softener) vs. E960: Steviol Glycosides (Reb-A / Stevia Extract)
Comparing 2 standards across 12 specifications. 12 key differences identified.
E471 is an authorized food emulsifier composed of glycerol esterified with one or two fatty acid chains (glycerol monostearate / monooleate). INS 471, ADI is Not Limited (Quantum Satis), globally recognized as the ultimate crumb softener and amylose complexing agent in bakery.
E960 (Steviol Glycosides / Rebaudioside A) is a natural zero-calorie sweetener water-extracted from the leaves of the Stevia plant (Stevia rebaudiana). INS 960a, ADI is 4 mg/kg bw/day (as steviol equivalents), providing 250–350x sucrose sweetness.
Specification Comparison Table
12 Parameters| Parameter / Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
|
E-Number Code
|
E471 | E960 |
|
INS / Codex Number
|
INS 471 | INS 960a / 960c |
|
Functional Class
|
Emulsifier, Anti-Staling Agent, Crumb Softener, Defoamer | Natural High-Intensity Sweetener |
|
Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI)
|
Not Limited (Quantum Satis) | 4 mg / kg body weight per day (as steviol equivalents) |
|
Common Target Foods
|
Sliced sandwich bread, margarines, ice creams, peanut butter (Prevents oil separation), cake mixes | Natural zero-calorie sodas (Zevia), flavored yogurts, protein shakes, tabletop drops |
|
Dietary Compliance
|
Vegan (When derived from palm/sunflower oil; animal fat variants must be labeled) | 100% Vegan (Stevia leaf water extraction), Halal, Kosher, Non-GMO |
|
Safety Approval
|
EFSA Authorized / FDA GRAS (21 CFR 184.1505) | EFSA Authorized / FDA GRAS Notices (GRN 252) |
|
Hydrophilic-Lipophilic Balance (HLB)
|
3.5 – 4.5 (Lipophilic water-in-oil emulsifier) | — |
|
Primary Mechanism
|
Fatty acid chain complexes into helical starch amylose cavity, preventing retrogradation staling | — |
|
Relative Sweetness Index
|
— | 250 – 350x Sucrose (Reb-A >98%) |
|
Caloric Value
|
— | 0.0 kcal / g kcal/g |
|
Glycemic Index (GI)
|
— | 0 (Zero effect on blood glucose or insulin) |