E500-E599: Acidity Regulators
93 E-numbers in this range
The E500-E599 range covers acidity regulators, anti-caking agents, and mineral salts. Many of these are everyday substances you probably already use at home — baking soda (E500), calcium chloride (E509), and table salt substitutes like potassium chloride (E508). Anti-caking agents in this range keep powdered products free-flowing. Most additives in this category have excellent safety profiles and are approved worldwide.
E500 Sodium Carbonates (Baking Soda) safe E500a Sodium Carbonate safe E500b Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate (Baking Soda) safe E500c Sodium Sesquicarbonate safe E501 Potassium Carbonates safe E501a Potassium Carbonate unknown E501b Potassium Hydrogen Carbonate unknown E502 Ammonium Hydrogen Carbonate unknown E503 Ammonium Carbonates safe E503a Ammonium Carbonate unknown E503b Ammonium Hydrogen Carbonate unknown E504 Magnesium Carbonates safe E504a Magnesium Carbonate unknown E504b Magnesium Hydrogen Carbonate unknown E505 Ferrous Carbonate unknown E506 Calcium Carbonate (precipitated) unknown E507 Hydrochloric Acid safe E507a Hydrochloric Acid (dilute) unknown E508 Potassium Chloride safe E508a Potassium Chloride (food grade) unknown E509 Calcium Chloride safe E510 Ammonium Chloride safe E511 Magnesium Chloride safe E512 Stannous Chloride caution E513 Sulphuric Acid safe E514 Sodium Sulphate safe E514a Sodium Sulphate (anhydrous) unknown E514b Sodium Hydrogen Sulphate unknown E515 Potassium Sulphate safe E515a Potassium Sulphate unknown E515b Potassium Hydrogen Sulphate unknown E516 Calcium Sulphate safe E516a Calcium Sulphate Hemihydrate unknown E517 Ammonium Sulphate safe E518 Magnesium Sulphate (Epsom Salts) safe E519 Copper(II) Sulphate caution E520 Aluminium Sulphate caution E520a Aluminium Sulphate (anhydrous) unknown E521 Aluminium Sodium Sulphate caution E522 Aluminium Potassium Sulphate (Alum) caution E523 Aluminium Ammonium Sulphate caution E524 Sodium Hydroxide safe E524a Sodium Hydroxide (pellets) unknown E525 Potassium Hydroxide safe E525a Potassium Hydroxide (food grade) unknown E526 Calcium Hydroxide safe E526a Calcium Hydroxide (food grade) unknown E527 Ammonium Hydroxide safe E528 Magnesium Hydroxide safe E529 Calcium Oxide safe E529a Calcium Oxide (Quicklime) unknown E530 Magnesium Oxide safe E535 Sodium Ferrocyanide safe E535a Sodium Ferrocyanide Decahydrate unknown E536 Potassium Ferrocyanide safe E537 Ferrous Hexacyanomanganate unknown E538 Calcium Ferrocyanide safe E539 Sodium Thiosulphate safe E540 Dicalcium Diphosphate unknown E541 Sodium Aluminium Phosphate (acidic) caution E542 Bone Phosphate (Edible) unknown E543 Calcium Sodium Polyphosphate unknown E544 Calcium Polyphosphate unknown E545 Ammonium Polyphosphate unknown E550 Sodium Silicate unknown E551 Silicon Dioxide (Silica) caution E551a Silicon Dioxide (amorphous) unknown E552 Calcium Silicate caution E553 Magnesium Silicate (generic) unknown E553a Magnesium Silicate / Talc caution E553b Talc safe E554 Sodium Aluminium Silicate caution E554a Sodium Aluminosilicate (synthetic) unknown E555 Potassium Aluminium Silicate caution E555a Potassium Aluminium Silicate (Mica) unknown E556 Calcium Aluminium Silicate unknown E558 Bentonite unknown E559 Aluminium Silicate (Kaolin) safe E560 Potassium Silicate unknown E570 Fatty Acids (Stearic Acid) safe E570a Stearic Acid unknown E571 Ammonium Stearate unknown E572 Magnesium Stearate safe E574 Gluconic Acid safe E575 Glucono-delta-lactone (GDL) safe E575a Glucono-delta-lactone (GDL, food grade) unknown E576 Sodium Gluconate safe E577 Potassium Gluconate safe E578 Calcium Gluconate safe E579 Ferrous Gluconate safe E580 Magnesium Gluconate unknown E585 Ferrous Lactate safe E586 4-Hexylresorcinol safe
Frequently Asked Questions
What are E500-E599 acidity regulators and anti-caking agents?
The E500-E599 range covers acidity regulators, anti-caking agents, and mineral salts used in food. Acidity regulators buffer pH levels — examples include sodium bicarbonate/baking soda (E500) and potassium chloride (E508). Anti-caking agents prevent powdered foods from clumping — examples include silicon dioxide (E551) and calcium silicate (E552). This range also includes mineral salts used as firming agents and nutrients.
Is silicon dioxide (E551) safe in food?
Silicon dioxide (E551) is an anti-caking agent used in powdered foods, spices, supplements, and coffee creamer. It is considered safe by the FDA, EFSA, and other agencies. Silicon dioxide is essentially the same compound as quartz sand, but in food-grade form it is an amorphous (non-crystalline) powder. It passes through the body without being absorbed. The main safety consideration is particle size — nano-sized particles are under ongoing review.
Is baking soda (E500) a food additive?
Yes, sodium bicarbonate (E500) — commonly known as baking soda — is officially classified as a food additive (acidity regulator and raising agent). It is one of the safest and most familiar food additives, used in baking for centuries. It reacts with acids to produce carbon dioxide gas, making baked goods rise. E500 is approved in every country and has no safety concerns at normal dietary levels.