Acidity regulators approved for use in food by the European Commission

Food additives permitted in the EU: acidity regulators

Below is a review of some of acidity regulators or pH control agents, such as carbon dioxide and carbonates, or acetic acid and lactic acid and their salts, present in the list of food additives approved in the European Community on the basis of the European Commission regulation No 1129/2011 published on 11 November 2011. This list is an amendment of Annex II to Regulation (EC) No. 1333/2008 of the European Parliament, then modified in 2013. Such list in its entirety is available by following the link in the References.

Acidity regulators: carbon dioxide and carbonates
E170 Calcium carbonate
E290 Carbon dioxide
E500 Sodium carbonates
E501 Potassium carbonates
E503 Ammonium carbonates
E504 Magnesium carbonates
Acidity regulators: acetic acid and its salts
E260 Acetic acid
E261 Potassium acetate
E262 Sodium acetate
E263 Calcium acetate
Acidity regulators: lactic acid and its salts
E270 Lactic acid
E325 Sodium lactate
E326 Potassium lactate
E327 Calcium lactate
Acidity regulators: citric acid and its salts
E330 Citric acid
E331  Sodium citrate
E332 Potassium citrate
E333 Calcium citrate
E380 Triammonium citrate
Acidity regulators: tartaric acid and its salts
E334 Tartaric acid (L(+)-)
E335 Sodium tartrate
E336 Potassium tartrate
E337 Sodium potassium tartrate
E353 Metatartaric acid
E354 Calcium tartrate
Acidity regulators: phosphoric acid and its salts
E338 Phosphoric acid
E339 Sodium phosphate
E340 Potassium phosphate
E341 Calcium phosphate
E343 Magnesium phosphate
E450 Diphosphates
E451 Triphosphates
E452 Polyphosphates
E541 Sodium aluminium phosphate
Acidity regulators: malic acid and its salts
E296 Malic acid
E350 Sodium malate
E351 Potassium malate
E352 Calcium malate
pH control agents: adipic acid and its salts
E355 Adipic acid
E356 Sodium adipate
E357 Potassium adipate
Hydrochloric acid and its salts
E507 Hydrochloric acid
E508 Potassium chloride
E509 Calcium chloride
E511 Magnesium chloride
E512 Stannous chloride
pH control agents: sulphuric acid and its salts
E513 Sulphuric acid
E514 Sodium sulphate
E515 Potassium sulphate
E516 Calcium sulphate
E517 Ammonium sulphate
E520 Aluminium sulphate
E521 Aluminium sodium sulphate
E522 Aluminium potassium sulphate
E523 Aluminium ammonium sulphate
Other acids and their salts
E297 Fumaric acid
E363 Succinic acid
E385 Calcium disodium ethylene diamine tetra-acetate or calcium disodium EDTA
pH control agents: alkalis
E524 Sodium hydroxide
E525 Potassium hydroxide
E526 Calcium hydroxide
E527 Ammonium hydroxide
E528 Magnesium hydroxide
E529 Calcium oxide
E530 Magnesium oxide
Other salts
E535 Sodium ferrocyanide
E536 Potassium ferrocyanide
E538 Calcium ferrocyanide

References

  1. Bender D.A. “Benders’ Dictionary of Nutrition and Food Technology” 8th ed. Woodhead Publishing. Oxford, 2006
  2. Commission Regulation (EU) No 1129/2011 of 11 November 2011 amending Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council by establishing a Union list of food additives. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2011/1129/2013-11-21

Biochemistry, metabolism, and nutrition