Lactic Acid esters of Mono-Di glycerides (Lactem) E472b Cas NO.: 977051-31-2

Lactic Acid Esters of Mono- and Diglycerides (LACTEM), also known as Lactic Acid Esters of Mono- and Diglycerides of Fatty Acids, INS No. 472b, CAS 977051-31-2, is a safe food additive primarily used as an emulsifier, stabilizer, and quality improver . According to the designated standards of the Ministry of Health of the People's Republic of China, this product is a mixture produced by the reaction of lactic acid and fatty acids with glycerol. It appears as a waxy solid with consistency ranging from soft to hard, typically presented as an off-white powder, granules, or flakes . It is insoluble in cold water but can be dispersed in hot water and hot oils . As a non-ionic emulsifier, its Hydrophilic-Lipophilic Balance (HLB) value ranges from 3 to 7, classifying it as a water-in-oil (W/O) type emulsifier . LACTEM is recognized as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) has established its Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) as "not limited" . LACTEM possesses versatile multifunctional properties, including emulsification, stabilization, wetting, viscosity reduction, fat crystallization control, starch retrogradation delay, and enhancement of gas-holding and foaming properties . It effectively stabilizes the alpha-crystalline form of fats, exhibiting excellent aeration properties in food systems .