Are stearates and stearic acid naturally found in foods?
Yes. Stearic acid (stearate) is the predominant saturated fat in the human diet. Stearates are nutrients that represent a natural part of every type of fat, whether animal or vegetable, and are typically consumed in amounts of several grams per day from common food sources. A 200-calorie serving of dark chocolate can contain up to 5 grams of stearates; cocoa butter, coconut oil, beef fat, olive oil, and virtually all fats and oils naturally contain far more stearates than do dietary supplements