Depends on Source
How we decideStearic acid is vegetarian when made from vegetable oil. The tallow route uses animal fat and falls outside a vegetarian diet. The ingredient name identifies the fatty acid, so ask the supplier which feedstock was used.
Vegetarian and vegan status
Vegetable-derived stearic acid can fit both vegetarian and vegan diets. Tallow-derived stearic acid fits neither. Refining the fat into a fatty acid does not change which source supplied it.
It depends on the source. Stearic acid can be produced from animal tallow or hydrogenated vegetable oil, and the ingredient name does not distinguish them.
What it is
- Comes from
- Commercial stearic acid can be made from hydrolyzed animal tallow or completely hydrogenated vegetable oil.
- Animal route
- cattle or sheep, through tallow
- Slaughter in the animal route
- Yes, for the animal-derived route
- Where you meet it
- Cosmetics, soaps, candles, tablets, food processing and industrial coatings.
- What replaces it
- Stearic acid documented as vegetable-derived or synthetic with animal fat excluded.
Sources
- Safety Assessment of Fatty Acids and Fatty Acid Salts (Cosmetic Ingredient Review)
Frequently asked questions
Is Stearic Acid vegetarian?
Depends on Source. Stearic acid is vegetarian when made from vegetable oil. The tallow route uses animal fat and falls outside a vegetarian diet. The ingredient name identifies the fatty acid, so ask the supplier which feedstock was used.
Is Stearic Acid vegan?
Depends on Source. It depends on the source. Stearic acid can be produced from animal tallow or hydrogenated vegetable oil, and the ingredient name does not distinguish them.
Does stearic acid always come from tallow?
No. Regulations describe commercial production from either hydrolyzed tallow or completely hydrogenated vegetable oil.
Does vegetable stearic acid prove every stearate is vegan?
No. A stearate is a separate ingredient and its supplier must confirm the source of its fatty acid portion.