Is E472 Vegan? E472a–f and DATEM Explained

Check the source E472 is not automatically animal-derived, and it is not automatically vegan. The useful question is where the manufacturer gets the fat-based ingredients used to make it.

E472a–f: which ingredient are you looking at?

E472 is a family of emulsifiers. They are related to E471, mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids, but have been combined with another acid. The final letter tells you which type. It does not name a plant or animal source.

The acids used in the E472 family

Code	Type of ester	What the name does not establish
E472a	Acetic acid esters	Whether the fat-based inputs are plant-derived
E472b	Lactic acid esters	It does not by itself mean milk is used
E472c	Citric acid esters	It does not mean the whole ingredient comes from lemons
E472d	Tartaric acid esters	The origin of the mono- and diglycerides
E472e	Mono- and diacetyltartaric acid esters, commonly DATEM	A plant or animal source
E472f	Mixed acetic and tartaric acid esters	A plant or animal source

In each row, the full name ends with “of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids.” These identities and the use of fats, oils or glycerol in manufacturing are described in EFSA's 2020 assessment of the full E472a–f family. A chemical definition is not a vegan supply-chain certificate.

For E472b, it is easy to fixate on the word “lactic.” Lactic acid is not the same as lactose, and its name alone does not make something dairy-derived. With any E472 variant, check the complete formulation and its sourcing rather than guessing from a familiar syllable.

Is DATEM vegan?

DATEM made with plant-derived inputs can be suitable for vegans. On food labels, DATEM commonly refers to E472e. Finding the abbreviation instead of the number does not answer the sourcing question; you still need the maker's information about those inputs and any processing aids.

DATEM is used in bread-making to help dough hold its structure. The UK Food Standards Agency's technical report on emulsifiers identifies DATEM as E472e and describes its fat-based composition. “Emulsifier” describes what it does in a recipe; it does not mean dairy or animal fat.

There is also a difference between possible sources and the source actually used. The Dutch Vegan Society's E472 guidance reports that vegetable sources predominate in its manufacturer enquiries, while recognising that animal fat is technically possible. That is useful context, not a reason to declare every unidentified E472 product vegan.

An unfamiliar additive deserves a source check, not an automatic rejection.

A real UK bread example: Warburtons Medium Toastie

On October 1, 2026, the UK Warburtons Medium Toastie 400g product page listed E472e and E481 as emulsifiers. It also listed vegetable oils. Reading the oils alone would not prove the emulsifiers used those same sources.

The more relevant evidence is Warburtons' own FAQ, which states that its E-numbers do not originate from animals. Its separate dietary answer says that some products contain milk, butter, eggs or honey, so shoppers should still check the individual recipe.

This example shows why two checks are better than one: a manufacturer can settle the additive's origin, while the packet tells you about the rest of the food. It is a UK website example, not a claim about every bread carrying E472e or every future Warburtons recipe. We reviewed the published pages, not a physical pack.

How to settle an unclear E472 label

1. Read the full ingredient list first. If it already contains butter or egg, you do not need to solve an uncertain emulsifier before deciding it is unsuitable for a vegan diet.
2. Look for a product-specific vegan claim. Make sure it refers to the flavour and pack in your hand. A vegetarian claim can still allow dairy or eggs.
3. Check the manufacturer's local website. A clear additive-sourcing FAQ can be useful, as in the bread example above. Match country, product name and current ingredients.
4. Ask a focused question if the source remains unclear. Include the product name, country of purchase, barcode and a label photo. Ask whether the E472 variant uses animal-derived fats, glycerol or processing aids, and whether the finished product is vegan.

“Is your E472e plant-derived?” usually gives customer support something more concrete to investigate than “Is this chemical bad?” You can also ask whether their answer covers all current suppliers for that product. Keep the response with its date, since a supplier change can make an old answer less useful.

If the reply only says the product is halal, kosher or vegetarian, do not silently translate that into vegan. Ask the remaining question directly. If no answer is available, leave the source unresolved and choose a clearly labelled alternative if that better suits your preferences.

What else matters on a bread packet?

E472 is only one possible decision point. Our bread ingredient guide covers milk, eggs and other ingredients that can change the verdict. For a list with several codes, use the E-number reference to distinguish clearly animal-derived additives from source-dependent ones.

Keep precautionary allergy text separate from deliberate ingredients. A bakery cross-contact warning needs its own assessment; it is not evidence that the E472 was animal-derived. Our explanation of “may contain milk” on vegan products covers that distinction. Anyone managing an allergy should use the actual allergen information and professional advice, not a vegan verdict.

Quick questions

Is E472 the same as E471?

No. E471 names mono- and diglycerides; the E472 family contains their acid esters. They share a sourcing question, but they are not interchangeable names for one ingredient.

Does E472e contain pork?

The code does not identify an animal species, or establish that any animal source was used. Manufacturer confirmation is needed if the source is not otherwise stated.

Can certified vegan bread contain DATEM?

Yes. A suitable plant-source formulation can contain E472e. Seeing the code is not, on its own, a reason to dismiss a product's vegan certification.

Sources and editorial scope

Published October 1, 2026. The linked scientific and manufacturer sources were checked for this guide. Product statements are scoped to the named UK pages; no products were laboratory-tested or taste-tested. Prepared by VeganCheckr with AI-assisted drafting and an AI editorial review for clarity, source accuracy and repetition. This is not a claim of independent human or dietitian review.