Fat molecules with one or two fatty acids instead of three — the body digests them like other fats.
Job
Keep bread soft, ice cream smooth and spreads stable.
Digestion
Made during normal fat digestion too.
Evidence & sources
FDA lists mono- and diglycerides as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS). Evidence: regulatory. Known: US regulation 21 CFR 184.1505. Unknown: — Source: US FDA, 21 CFR 184.1505 (Current revision).