Calcium Stearate

(in 718 products)

1. Anti-caking Agent - Prevents lumps from forming in food due to excess water. They usually function as a water repellent or by absorbing excess moisture.

2. Colorant - Pigments or dyes that are added in order to change or enhance the color.

3. Drug / Medicine - Treats, alleviates, cures, or prevents sickness. As officially declared by a governmental drug/medicine regulatory body

4. Gelling Agent / Thickener - Increases the viscosity by thickening the liquid to give it more texture

5. Glazing Agent - A waxy coating which provides protection and prevents water loss

6. Preservative - Prevents and inhibits the growth of unwanted microorganisms which may be harmful

Calcium stearate is a carboxylate of calcium, classified as a calcium soap. It is a component of some lubricants, surfactants, as well as many foodstuffs. It is a white waxy powder.

Calcium stearate is a waxy material with low solubility in water, unlike traditional sodium and potassium soaps. It is also easy and cheap to produce, and exhibits low toxicity. It is used as a flow agent and surface conditioner in some candies. Applications in the personal care and pharmaceutical industry include tablet mold release, anti-tack agent, and gelling agent.

It is not approved to use as food additive (E572) in EU.

1. PubChem: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/15324

1. South Korea - Ministry of Food and Drug Safety - Prohibited/Restricted Chemicals

- Ref: 411

2. EU CosIng Annex IV, COLORANTS ALLOWED IN COSMETIC PRODUCTS [2017]

- Ref: IV/150

3. E-numbers which are not found in EU FOOD

4. Japan’s List of Designated Food Additives under Article 10 of the Food Sanitation Act

- Calcium Stearate

5. Canada List of Permitted Food Additives

- List 8 - Calcium Stearate

6. Association of Southeast Asian Nations Annex IV - Part 1, Allowed Colorants

- Aluminium, zinc, magnesium and calcium stearates

7. US FDA Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) Food Substances (21 CFR 184) [2017]

- § 184.1229 - Calcium stearate