As an alternative to palm oil, some brands contain mono- and di-glycerides of fatty acids, also known as glyceryl monostearate or distearate, or E471. This is used as an artificial stabilizer. These brands are also high in saturates.

Is E471 safe to eat?

In the evaluation​​, EFSA scientists said there is no safety concern when E 471 is used in foods at the reported uses, and there is no need to set a numerical acceptable daily intake (ADI). ... However, E 471 is an emulsifier which can be manufactured by direct esterification of glycerol with fatty acids.

What is emulsifier 471 made from?

The E471 emulsifier is composed of two molecules known as glyceryl monostearate and glyceryl distearate. It is manufactured from glycerine (E422), which can be obtained from either animal fats or soy bean oil.