None of the food products mention what this E-number (E-471) contains.
The emulsifiers used by the European countries bearing the E numbers are different to the products manufactured in South Africa. The E numbers appearing on the local products have no definite definition i.e. one company defines E 471 to contain a plant base whilst another company defines E 471 to contain animal base. These are approximately 700 – emulsifiers on the market of which half are animal based and half are plant based.
However, the overseas products with E numbers correspond to the products manufactured in European countries.
Mufti Ebrahim Desai