E302Antioxidant
Calcium ascorbate
What the research shows
No concerns
none of the findings here link it to harm
A compound that is the calcium salt of ascorbic acid.1
- Vegan
- Vegetarian
- EU permitted
What research says
Studies in people
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Benefit
Immune cell activity2
In healthy adults, 500 mg of calcium ascorbate may boost some immune benefits more than 500 mg of plain vitamin C.
The signal at the top counts the findings in people and in animal and lab studies. A concern in studies of people outranks animal and lab studies, and “No concerns” needs at least one finding in people. When most findings in people point one way, the page leans that way (“Mostly”), and every finding is still shown. Findings whose study type is not stated are shown but not counted. This page is a reference, not medical advice. It describes what regulators and published research say. Talk to a doctor or dietitian about your own diet.
What expert reviews concluded
Expert panels that weigh all the research. Shown for context: the signal at the top does not count them.
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UN and WHO food additive experts (JECFA), 1981
No daily limit needed (“ADI not specified”, JECFA’s term for very low toxicity).
Regulatory status
Checked Sep 2026-
United States Permitted FDA 21 CFR 182.3189
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European Union Permitted EUR-Lex Reg. (EC) 1333/2008
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United Kingdom Permitted FSA retained EU law
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Canada Permitted Health Canada · Preservatives
Status reflects the named register on the date checked. It is not a safety rating.
How we checkProducts
The 6 most-scanned of 469 products on Open Food Facts that list calcium ascorbate.
- Daily Electrolyte Drink Mix Ultima Replenisher 5 additives
- Collagen Peptides Weider · 680 g 1 additive
- Ultima Replenisher Pink Lemonade Ultima Replenisher 2 additives
- Cod liver oil plus multivitamins Seven Seas 9 additives
- Honey Apple Salad Kit Taylor Farms · 305 g 5 additives
- Ultima replenisher 2 additives
References
- 1Calcium ascorbate. Wikipedia. Accessed September 26, 2026. CC BY-SA 4.0.
- 2Dickerson B, Gonzalez DE, Sowinski R, et al. Comparative Effectiveness of Ascorbic Acid vs. Calcium Ascorbate Ingestion on Pharmacokinetic Profiles and Immune Biomarkers in Healthy Adults: A Preliminary Study. Nutrients. 2024;16(19). doi:10.3390/nu16193358