File Number 333-43970/811-4001
                                                Filed Pursuant to Rule 497 (e)



                        SUPPLEMENT DATED NOVEMBER 5, 2001
                                       TO
                          PROSPECTUS DATED MAY 1, 2001

                      METROPOLITAN LIFE SEPARATE ACCOUNT E
                        METLIFE INCOME SECURITY PLAN(SM)
                        VARIABLE INCOME ANNUITY CONTRACTS
                                    ISSUED BY
                       METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

This Supplement updates the following information:

1. Delete the first sentence in "Valuation Date" on page 6 and substitute the
following:

         The day on which we calculate your income payment, process a
         reallocation request or determine contract value.

2. Add the following to "Features of the Income Annuity" after the fourth
paragraph on page 13:

         The Income Annuity may be held as an investment in a custodial
         individual retirement account ("Custodial IRA").

3. Add the following to the second sidebar paragraph adjacent to "Income Types"
on page 15:

         Income payments are made only on an annual basis, if you hold the
         Income Annuity in a Custodial IRA.

4. Add the following section before "Death Benefit Fee" on page 22:

         MINIMUM DISTRIBUTION

         If the Income Annuity is held in a Custodial IRA, you may be entitled
         to receive an additional income payment during the year in order for
         you to comply with minimum distribution requirements under the federal
         tax law. We determine if an additional payment is available by
         comparing the amount that was already paid in the year to the amount
         that is required to be paid under the federal tax rules using the value
         of the contract, calculated as of the last valuation date of the
         previous calendar year, divided by the applicable distribution period
         specified by income

         tax regulations. For this purpose, contract value is equal to the
         amount of the income payment determined on the last valuation date of
         the previous calendar year multiplied by the annuity purchase rate as
         of the same valuation date. If an additional payment is made, the next
         income payment made the following year will be reduced by a percentage
         equal to the amount of the previous year's additional payment divided
         by the contract value determined as of the additional payment date.

5. Delete the first two sentences in "Receiving Income Payments and Information"
on page 26 and substitute the following:

         You may elect to have your payments sent to your residence or have us
         deposit payments directly into your bank account. If the Income Annuity
         is held in a Custodial IRA, payments are deposited into a money market
         mutual fund also held in the Custodial IRA. If you elect to have your
         payment direct deposited or if the Income Annuity is held in a
         Custodial IRA, you will be mailed a stub statement for the payment.

6. Add the following section after "Section 457(b)" on page 36:

         Custodial IRAs

         Purchase payments may consist of both deductible (pre-tax) and
         non-deductible (post-tax) monies. If the Income Annuity is held in a
         Custodial IRA, you may be entitled to receive an additional income
         payment from the Income Annuity during the year in order to comply with
         minimum distribution requirements. Any amounts held within the IRA
         Custodial Account are deferred from income tax. Any payments received
         as distributions from the IRA Custodial Account are subject to the
         income tax rules for individual retirement accounts.

THIS SUPPLEMENT SHOULD BE READ AND RETAINED FOR FUTURE REFERENCE

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