What does DATEM stand for on a label?
Diacetyl tartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides. Both the acronym and the long name match this page.
Gums & emulsifiers
DATEM
A dough-strengthener emulsifier printed as DATEM or its long chemical name.
Matches personal ingredient preferences based on label evidence; not medical, allergy, or dietary safety advice
What the label is naming
DATEM is diacetyl tartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides. Bakery labels use the acronym or the long name, and sometimes E472e. The long name overlaps mono- and diglycerides; the longer DATEM pattern keeps one highlight so the bread is not explained as the wrong emulsifier.
Where it hides
Packaged sandwich bread, hamburger buns, and some tortillas. It is a bakery ingredient more than a chip or soda ingredient.
Names and codes
- DATEM
- Diacetyl tartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides
- E472e
Aisles to check
- Sandwich bread
- Hamburger buns
- Tortillas
Label-reading tips
- Learn the acronym DATEM; the long name is easy to skim past.
- It is not the same highlight as plain mono- and diglycerides.
Check a label for DATEM
Paste an ingredient list. This checker looks only for DATEM. It does not score the rest of the food.
Questions
Will a DATEM label also flag mono- and diglycerides?
Not on the overlapping span. The longer DATEM phrase wins so the explanation names DATEM.