It depends on the fatty acid source, which can be plant or animal. The code does not say. A halal certification mark on the bread, or a direct answer from the baker, is the only reliable route.

Only when the fatty acids are plant-derived. It carries the same ambiguity as E471 because it is built on the same base.

Why is DATEM in bread?

It strengthens dough so it traps more gas and survives fast industrial handling, giving the even, high crumb supermarket bread is expected to have.

Is DATEM banned anywhere?

No. It is permitted across the EU, UK, and US. It is absent from some artisan and clean-label breads by choice rather than by regulation.

Is DATEM the same as E471?

Not the same, but related. DATEM is made by modifying E471 with tartaric and acetic acid, which is why the source question is identical.

E472e DATEM: Is the Bread Emulsifier Halal?

What E472e actually is

DATEM is why a supermarket loaf has a uniform, high, even crumb. It strengthens the gluten network so dough holds more gas and survives industrial handling. Without it, high-speed bread production would produce far denser, more variable loaves.

What it is made from

Made by reacting mono- and diglycerides with tartaric acid and acetic acid. Because it starts from the same fatty acid base as E471, it inherits the same source question: those fatty acids can come from plant oils or animal fats.

Vegan, vegetarian, and halal status

DATEM carries exactly the same ambiguity as E471, and for the same reason. A certified vegan, vegetarian, or halal mark on the bread means the source has been verified. Without one, the manufacturer is the only reliable answer. Many large bakery brands publish a standing answer because they are asked so often.

Is E472e safe?

DATEM is permitted in the EU, UK, and US. EFSA re-evaluated it in 2019 and set a group acceptable daily intake for the E472 esters. It is broken down in digestion into components the body already handles. One study in rats reported heart-muscle changes at very high doses, which regulators reviewed and did not consider relevant to dietary intake.

Broken down in digestion into fatty acids and tartaric acid
A high-dose rat study reported heart-muscle changes, reviewed by regulators and not considered relevant at dietary levels
The practical question for most shoppers is dietary suitability, not safety

Where regulators stand

EFSA (EU): Re-evaluated in 2019 with a group acceptable daily intake set for the E472 esters.
FDA (US): Generally recognized as safe for use as a dough conditioner.

Foods it turns up in

Packaged bread, rolls, and buns
Wraps and flatbreads
Coffee whiteners
Some baked goods and batters

Names it hides behind

E472e
DATEM
Diacetyl tartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides
Emulsifier (E472e)

Common questions

Is DATEM halal?: It depends on the fatty acid source, which can be plant or animal. The code does not say. A halal certification mark on the bread, or a direct answer from the baker, is the only reliable route.
Is DATEM vegan?: Only when the fatty acids are plant-derived. It carries the same ambiguity as E471 because it is built on the same base.
Why is DATEM in bread?: It strengthens dough so it traps more gas and survives fast industrial handling, giving the even, high crumb supermarket bread is expected to have.
Is DATEM banned anywhere?: No. It is permitted across the EU, UK, and US. It is absent from some artisan and clean-label breads by choice rather than by regulation.
Is DATEM the same as E471?: Not the same, but related. DATEM is made by modifying E471 with tartaric and acetic acid, which is why the source question is identical.

Checking a real pack

This page answers the code. The pack in your hand is what decides, because the same code can come from different sources depending on the manufacturer. LabelWise, formerly SafeChoice, scans the label and explains what is in front of you.

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LabelWise content is educational and describes how additives are made, regulated, and labelled. It is not medical, dietary, or religious advice. For certification questions, the mark on the pack and the certifying body are the authority.

E472e: DATEM