What are Emulsifiers?
You’ve probably seen them on ingredient labels before.
Polysorbate 80. Lecithins. Mono- and diglycerides.
They sound scientific… that's because they are. But what exactly are emulsifiers?
So, what are Emulsifiers?
In simple terms, an emulsifier is something that helps two ingredients mix together when they naturally wouldn’t.
Think oil and water. Shake them together and they’ll combine for a moment, then quickly separate.
An emulsifier acts like a bridge between the two, holding everything together so sauces, dressings, spreads and processed foods stay smooth and uniform for weeks (or even months) on supermarket shelves 🛒
Why are they used so widely?
To put it simply, because they make food last longer.
They improve texture, prevent separation and create consistency at scale.
For large-scale food production and long distribution chains, emulsifiers are incredibly useful. They allow products to travel further and sit on shelves longer without changing appearance or texture.
But here’s the part less talked about… Some commonly used emulsifiers have been linked in emerging research to potential gut irritation and disruption of the gut microbiome when consumed frequently.
While many are legally approved and considered safe within regulatory limits, there is growing discussion around ultra-processed foods and the cumulative impact of additives - particularly when they appear in a large portion of the modern diet.
At Crate to Plate, we simply ask a different question:
If we don’t need them… why use them? 🤔
Our sauces and dressings are made right here in our on-site production kitchen, just seconds from the farm where the ingredients are harvested 🌱
Val, our development chef, has a streamlined, small-batch process that allows us to make fresh dressings efficiently without the need for artificial stabilisers.
No emulsifiers. No unnecessary additives. No long-distance distribution.
Yes, our bottles have a shorter shelf life.
Yes, you might need to give them a shake.
But that’s because they’re made from real ingredients, and real food behaves like real food.
So, if you would like to give our dressing a try and see if you can taste the difference, click below to order yourself a bottle today!
