Dietary exposure of the Belgian population to emulsifiers E481 (sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate) and E482 (calcium stearoyl-2-lactylate).
Bel S, Struyf T, Fierens T, Jacobs G, Vinkx C, Bellemans M, Voorspoels S, De Ridder K.
Food Addit Contam Part A Chem Anal Control Expo Risk Assess. 2018 May;35(5):828-837. doi: 10.1080/19440049.2018.1435911. Epub 2018 Feb 22.

Development of a quantitative GC-FID method for the determination of stearoyl-lactylates (E481/482) in foods.
Cucu T, Shrestha K, De Meulenaer B.
Food Addit Contam Part A Chem Anal Control Expo Risk Assess. 2014;31(12):1929-38. doi: 10.1080/19440049.2014.971445. Epub 2014 Nov 3.

Activation of alpha1-adrenergic receptor during Ca2+ pre-conditioning elicits strong protection against Ca2+ overload injury via protein kinase C signaling pathway.
Wang Y, Ashraf M.
J Mol Cell Cardiol. 1998 Nov;30(11):2423-35

Studies on the metabolism of calcium stearoyl-2-lactylate in the rat, mouse, guinea-pig and man.
Phillips JC, Topp C, Gangolli SD.
Food Cosmet Toxicol. 1981 Feb;19(1):7-11.

Calcium stearoyl-2-lactylate is a chemical compound, ester of the reaction of stearic acid with lactic acid and calcium.

is a chemical compound, ester of the reaction of stearic acid with lactic acid and sodium.

It appears in the form of a white powder.

What it is used for and where

Food

It is included in the list of food additives with the number E482 as a hydrophilic emulsifier, thickener, stabilizer.

Safety

EFSA's Scientific Panel on Food Additives provided a scientific opinion on the safety of sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate (E 481, SSL) and calcium stearoyl-2-lactylate (E 482, CSL) when used as food additives. Neither SSL and CSL nor their breakdown products stearic and lactic acid raise concern for genotoxicity. The NOAEL in a one-year oral toxicity study with SSL in rats was 2214 mg/kg bw/day for males and 2641 mg/kg bw/day for females. No data on reproductive toxicity and carcinogenicity were available. However, no reproductive or carcinogenic effects are expected since the products of hydrolysis, stearic and lactic acid are constituents of natural food and part of endogenous metabolism in mammals. The Panel concluded that based on the NOAEL of 2200 mg/kg bw/day derived from the one-year toxicity study in rats and an uncertainty factor of 100, an ADI of 22 mg/kg bw/day for sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate (E 481) and calcium stearoyl-2-lactylate (E 482) either singly or in combination can be established. The estimated exposure to SSL and CSL occurs mainly via the consumption of flavoured fermented milk products including heat treated products, bread and rolls and fine bakery wares and is below the ADI of 22 mg/kg bw/day for all the adult population including the elderly, but exceeds the ADI for other groups of the population at mean level and for all groups of the population at high level (1).

The most relevant studies on this ingredient have been selected with a summary of their contents:

Calcium stearoyl lactate studies

• Molecular Formula: C₄₈H₈₆CaO₁₂
• Molecular Weight: 895.282 g/mol
• UNII: 30MXH4012A
• CAS: 5793-94-2  90128-66-8  1081753-82-3
• EC Number: 227-335-7

Synonyms:

• Octadecanoic Acid, 2-(1-Carboxyethoxy)-1-Methyl-2-Oxoethyl Ester, Calcium Salt
• Calcium verate
• E482
• Calcium stearoyl-2-lactylate
• Calcium alpha-(alpha-(stearoyloxy)propionyloxy)propionate
• Stearic acid, ester with lactate of lactic acid, ca salt
• Calcium 2-(1-carboxyethoxy)-1-methyl-2-oxoethyloctadecanoate
• Stearic acid, ester with lactic acid bimol. ester calcium salt
• Octadecanoic acid, 2-(1-carboxyethoxy)-1-methyl-2-oxoethyl ester, calcium salt
• Calcium stearoyl lactylate
• Stearoyl-2-lactylic acid
• Calcium bis(2-(1-carboxylatoethoxy)-1-methyl-2-oxoethyl) distearate
• calcium 2-(2-octadecanoyloxypropanoyloxy)propanoate
• Sodium stearoyl lactylate
• Octadecanoic acid, 2-(1-carboxyethoxy)-1-methyl-2-oxoethyl ester, calcium salt (2:1)

References____________________________________________________________________

(1) EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources added to Food (ANS), 2013. Scientific Opinion on the re‐evaluation of sodium stearoyl‐2‐lactylate (E 481) and calcium stearoyl‐2‐lactylate (E 482) as food additives. EFSA Journal, 11(5), p.3144.