Foods Containing E479b (Thermally Oxidised Soya Bean Oil)
E479b (Thermally Oxidised Soya Bean Oil) is made from soya bean oil, used as a emulsifier to help help mix ingredients that would normally separate, like oil and water. Here's where you're most likely to find it on food labels.
Common foods that contain E479b
E479b is used across bread, margarine, chocolate, ice cream, cakes and processed foods. The foods where it appears most often include:
- Bread
- Margarine
- Chocolate
- Ice cream
- Cakes and processed foods
Exact usage varies by brand and recipe — the only way to know for certain whether a specific product contains E479b is to check its ingredients list, where it must be declared by law, either as "E479b" or as "Thermally Oxidised Soya Bean Oil".
How to spot E479b on a label
In the UK and EU, additives must appear in the ingredients list with their function and either their E-number or full name — for example "emulsifiers: E479b" or "emulsifiers: thermally oxidised soya bean oil". In the US the E-number system isn't used, so look for the full name "Thermally Oxidised Soya Bean Oil" instead.
Should you avoid foods containing E479b?
E479b is considered safe. It is authorised across the EU, UK and US, and safety evaluations by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) have not identified health concerns at the levels used in food. For most people there is no reason to avoid E479b.
Full guide to E479b: safety, vegan and halal status →
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Additive data sourced from Open Food Facts (ODbL licence) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).