Is aluminum distearate vegan?

Aluminum distearate is a metallic soap made from aluminum and stearic acid, commonly used as an anticaking agent, emulsifier, stabilizer, and thickener. It is manufactured by reacting aluminum salts with stearic acid, a saturated fatty acid. In the food industry, it occasionally appears in dietary supplements, powdered food mixes, and confectioneries, though it is also widely used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and food-contact packaging.

This ingredient is classified as possibly vegan because the stearic acid used to create it can come from plant or animal sources. Plant-based stearic acid is typically extracted from palm oil, coconut oil, or soybean oil. Alternatively, animal-derived stearic acid is produced from rendered animal fat, such as tallow from cattle, sheep, or pigs. Because product ingredient lists rarely indicate the origin of the starting fatty acids, shoppers can verify its status by looking for an official vegan certification on the package or by contacting the manufacturer directly.