Glyceryl monostearate, also known as GMS, is a common food additive used as an emulsifier and thickening agent. Some synonyms for this compound include monostearin, glycerin monostearate, and E471. Monostearin refers to the fact that this compound is made up of one molecule of glycerol and one molecule of stearic acid. Glycerin monostearate is simply another way to describe the same compound, while E471 is the European Union classification for food additives. Other synonyms for glyceryl monostearate include distilled monoglyceride, stearic acid glycerol ester, and Glycerol monostearate 40. All of these names refer to the same chemical compound with similar functions in the food industry.