What Is DATEM in Bread?

Quick Answer: DATEM (Diacetyl Tartaric Acid Esters of Mono- and Diglycerides) is a dough conditioner used in commercial bread to improve texture and volume. It may contain trans fats and is derived from soybean or palm oil. It is FDA-approved but banned in some countries.

DATEM is one of the most common dough conditioners in commercial bread, used to strengthen gluten, improve crumb softness, and extend shelf life. It's found in most mass-produced bread, buns, tortillas, and pizza dough. DATEM is made by reacting mono and diglycerides with tartaric acid. Since mono and diglycerides can contain trans fatty acids, DATEM may also contain trace amounts of trans fats — exempt from labeling requirements. The ingredient is derived from soybean oil or palm oil, which raises GMO and sustainability concerns respectively. While the FDA considers DATEM safe, the Center for Science in the Public Interest recommends avoiding it. Artisan and organic breads typically do not use DATEM or other dough conditioners.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is DATEM safe to eat?

The FDA considers DATEM safe, but it may contain trace trans fats and is derived from GMO soybean or palm oil. Artisan breads avoid it entirely.

What bread has DATEM?

Most commercial breads including Wonder Bread, Sara Lee, and many store-brand breads contain DATEM. Organic and artisan breads typically do not.

Related Ingredients

DatemMono DiglyceridesSoy Lecithin

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APACheckIt AI. (2026). "What Is DATEM in Bread? — CheckIt AI". Climaverse PBC. Retrieved from https://getcheck.it/answers/what-is-datem-in-bread
MLA"What Is DATEM in Bread? — CheckIt AI." CheckIt AI, Climaverse PBC, 2026-03-05. https://getcheck.it/answers/what-is-datem-in-bread.
HTML Embed<a href="https://getcheck.it/answers/what-is-datem-in-bread">What Is DATEM in Bread? — CheckIt AI — CheckIt AI</a>
BibTeX@misc{checkit2026answerswhatisdateminbread, title = {What Is DATEM in Bread? — CheckIt AI}, author = {CheckIt AI}, year = {2026}, publisher = {Climaverse PBC}, url = {https://getcheck.it/answers/what-is-datem-in-bread}, note = {Retrieved 2026-03-05} }