Polysorbate
Buy Polysorbate 20, 60 and 80 in Food Grade and NF/FCC Grade, RSPO, Kosher and Halal Certified.
Buy polysorbate online in the type and grade your formulation needs, with the price right on the page. Polysorbate 80, Food Grade is Kosher and Halal certified, the most common choice for food and beverage emulsification. Polysorbate 20 and Polysorbate 60, both derived from palm, come in Food Grade, Kosher and Halal certified versions, and Polysorbate 60 and Polysorbate 80 are also available in NF/FCC Grade with RSPO Mass Balance certification added on top, for applications that call for a pharmacopeia grade excipient.
Every product ships with its SDS and COA posted online, and sizes run from 500 mL bottles up to 55 gallon drums on select grades. Polysorbate is one of the mildest surfactants in our catalog, non-toxic at typical use levels and widely used across food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical formulation, though it still ships to business, lab and school addresses rather than residential ones, in line with the rest of our chemical catalog.
256,000+
customers served
99.5%
of orders ship in 1–2 business days
98.9%
inventory accuracy
SDS + COA
available online, every product
About Polysorbate
Polysorbates are nonionic surfactants made by reacting sorbitan, derived from sorbitol, with ethylene oxide and then esterifying the result with a fatty acid. Which fatty acid gets attached is what separates the different numbered polysorbates: polysorbate 20 uses lauric acid, polysorbate 60 uses stearic acid, and polysorbate 80 uses oleic acid. That one difference changes the molecule's properties enough to make each type better suited to different jobs, even though they all work the same basic way, with a water loving head and an oil loving tail that lets them bridge otherwise incompatible ingredients. At room temperature, polysorbates are viscous, oily liquids, ranging from nearly colorless to pale yellow depending on the type and grade.
COMMON APPLICATIONS
Emulsifier in food and beverage products, keeping oil and water based ingredients blended in dressings, sauces, ice cream and baked goods. Solubilizer and stabilizer in cosmetics and personal care products, including lotions, shampoos and eye drops. Pharmaceutical excipient use, where NF grade polysorbate helps stabilize aqueous drug formulations; some pharmaceutical and vaccine products use polysorbate 80 specifically for this purpose, though that application requires sterile, pharmaceutical grade material manufactured and tested to a much stricter standard than our food and cosmetic grade products. Laboratory reagent use as a mild, nonionic detergent in biochemical and microbiological protocols.
GRADES EXPLAINED
Food Grade meets food chemical standards and is the one to buy for food, beverage or general cosmetic formulation; it's where most of our Kosher and Halal certification sits. NF/FCC Grade additionally meets National Formulary standards, the pharmacopeia reference for pharmaceutical excipients, making it the choice when a formulation specifically calls for NF grade material, though it is still not sterile or injection ready on its own. RSPO Mass Balance certification, carried by several products here, confirms the palm derived raw material was sourced under the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil's supply chain model.
TYPES & GRADES AT A GLANCE
The most common polysorbate, an emulsifier made with oleic acid.
Pharmacopeia grade, derived from palm under RSPO Mass Balance.
Made with lauric acid, both derived from palm.
Made with stearic acid, both derived from palm.
Made with stearic acid, both derived from palm.
WHY BUY FROM LAB ALLEY
256,000+ customers already order their chemicals and reagents from Lab Alley. 99.5% of orders ship within 1 to 2 business days, and 98.9% inventory accuracy means the grade you see in stock is the grade that ships. SDS and COA are available online for every polysorbate product, and all six carry Kosher and Halal certification, with the palm derived products also RSPO Mass Balance certified; check each product page for the exact combination.
Related: See our Glycerin collection, or browse all Specialty Chemicals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I buy polysorbate online?
Right here. We carry Polysorbate 20, 60 and 80 in Food Grade and NF/FCC Grade. Pick the type and grade, check the price, and order with no quote needed for standard sizes. Most in stock orders ship within 1 to 2 business days.
What's the difference between polysorbate 20, 60 and 80?
The fatty acid attached to the sorbitan backbone. Polysorbate 20 uses lauric acid, polysorbate 60 uses stearic acid, and polysorbate 80 uses oleic acid. That difference changes how each one behaves: polysorbate 20 tends to work well in lighter, more water based formulations, polysorbate 80 is the most common all purpose food and cosmetic emulsifier, and polysorbate 60 sits in between, often used where a slightly different texture or stability profile is needed.
Is polysorbate 80 actually safe?
At the levels used in food and cosmetics, yes, it's one of the most studied emulsifiers around with a long safety record. It's also a genuine pharmaceutical excipient, used in certain injectable medications and included in some vaccines at very small doses, a documented fact rather than a safety concern. Our Food Grade and NF/FCC Grade products are not sterile, injection grade material on their own, so they are not a substitute for an approved excipient in sterile manufacturing.
Food Grade vs NF/FCC Grade, what's the actual difference?
Food Grade meets food chemical standards, the one to buy for food, beverage or general cosmetic formulation. NF/FCC Grade additionally meets National Formulary standards, the reference pharmacopeia for pharmaceutical excipients, which is why formulators choose it when a method or regulatory filing specifically calls for NF grade material. Neither grade is sterile or ready for injectable use without further processing and testing.
Are all your polysorbate products Kosher and Halal certified?
Yes, all six carry both Kosher and Halal certification. Four of the six, both Polysorbate 20 products, one Polysorbate 60 and the NF/FCC Polysorbate 80, are also derived from palm under RSPO Mass Balance certification. Check each specific product page to confirm the exact combination of certifications that applies.
Do I need a permit, and can polysorbate ship to a home address?
No purchase permit is required. Polysorbate is a very mild, low hazard surfactant, but like the rest of our catalog it ships to business, lab and school addresses rather than residential ones. Each product page lists its specific shipping details, and Customer Care at 512-668-9918 can confirm before you order if you're unsure your address qualifies.
Which polysorbate should I buy?
Match it to your formulation. General food, beverage or cosmetic emulsification: Polysorbate 80, Food Grade, the most widely used all purpose option. Need a lighter texture or a specific formulation calls for it: Polysorbate 20. Need something in between: Polysorbate 60. If your project specifically requires NF grade material, pick the NF/FCC version of whichever type your formulation calls for.
Can I buy polysorbate in bulk?
Yes, several of our polysorbate products scale up to 55 gallon drums right on the product page. For volumes beyond what's listed, or a recurring delivery schedule, request pricing through Bulk & Custom Chemicals. Autoship takes 10% off eligible repeat orders.
How should polysorbate be stored?
Keep it tightly sealed in its original container, away from direct light, in a cool, dry place. Polysorbate is hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs moisture from the air, and like other polyoxyethylene surfactants it can slowly form peroxides if stored too long or improperly, so check moisture content and condition before use if a container has been open for a while.
Guides & Resources
Polysorbate 80 Overview
Discover the key properties and uses of polysorbate 80. Understand how this organic solvent supports food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical production with safe handling practices.
Read article →Types of Polysorbate 80
What are the different types of polysorbate 80? Learn the differences between food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical grades, plus their key applications.
Read article →Polysorbate 80 Safety & Hazards
Learn polysorbate 80's safety guidelines, hazards, and handling practices. Understand exposure risks, protective equipment, storage, first aid, and compliance standards for safe use.
Read article →How and why Polysorbate 80 is used as a food additive
Ever wonder why Polysorbate 80 is in your food? Discover how this common emulsifier improves texture, stability, and quality in your favorite snacks and products at Laballey.com
Read article →Polysorbate 80 Uses & Applications
Learn about polysorbate 80 grades, purities, and packaging options for food, pharmaceutical, and industrial use. Explore specifications, testing standards, and bulk availability to find the right polysorbate 80 for your operation.
Read article → Industries That Use Polysorbate
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