E327Thickener
Calcium lactate
What the research shows
No concerns
none of the findings here link it to harm
A white crystal salt made from calcium.1
- Vegan
- Vegetarian
- EU permitted
What research says
Studies in people
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Benefit
Cholesterol levels4
In people with high cholesterol, calcium lactate tablets lowered total cholesterol slightly over four weeks.
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Benefit
Tooth decay from sweet snacks6
In people, cookies with calcium lactate caused less tooth mineral loss, especially the sweeter ones.
How it’s made and used
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Blood acidity during exercise2
In people, calcium lactate slightly raised blood pH and bicarbonate, but did not improve repeated high-intensity exercise performance.
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Taste and keeping quality3
A tasting panel liked frankfurters with calcium lactate, and it helped stop a harmful germ during storage.
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Sprint and jump performance5
In young soccer players, calcium lactate before exercise worsened sprinting but did not change jumping or agility.
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), 1974
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 184.1207
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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 · Firming Agents
Status reflects the named register on the date checked. It is not a safety rating.
How we checkProducts
The 6 most-scanned of 2,706 products on Open Food Facts that list calcium lactate.
- Mogu lychee Sappe Public Company Limited · 320 ml 5 additives
- Thai Sweet Chilli Flavour Potato Crisps Walkers · 150 g 6 additives
- Sweet Chilli Rice Crackers The Snack Organisation 7 additives
- Fruit Slices Go Ahead 9 additives
- Finn Crisp Snacks Finn Crisp · 150 g 3 additives
- Dot's Homestyle Pretzels Original Seasoned Pretzel Twists Dot's · 35 oz 6 additives
References
- 1Calcium lactate. Wikipedia. Accessed September 26, 2026. CC BY-SA 4.0.
- 2Painelli Vde S, da Silva RP, de Oliveira OM Jr, et al. The effects of two different doses of calcium lactate on blood pH, bicarbonate, and repeated high-intensity exercise performance. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2014;24(3):286-95. doi:10.1123/ijsnem.2013-0191
- 3Tahmouzi S, Razavi SH, Safari M, Emam-Djomeh Z. Influence of beet sugar, calcium lactate, and Staphylococcus xylosus (with nitrate reductase activity) on the chemical, microbiological, and sensorial properties of Persian uncured frankfurters. J Food Sci. 2012;77(10):M565-71. doi:10.1111/j.1750-3841.2012.02754.x
- 4Andryskowski G, Chojnowska-Jezierska J, Broncel M, Barylski M, Banach M. Effect of calcium lactate supplementation on cholesterol concentration in patients with hyperlipidaemia and previous viral hepatitis: a preliminary report. Cardiovasc J Afr. 2008;19(2):84-7.
- 5Azevedo H, Azevedo V, Padilha D, et al. Acute Response of Calcium Lactate Supplementation on the Athletic Performance of Soccer Players Under the Age of 15. Pediatr Exerc Sci. 2024;36(4):258-264. doi:10.1123/pes.2023-0155
- 6Kashket S, Yaskell T. Effectiveness of calcium lactate added to food in reducing intraoral demineralization of enamel. Caries Res. 1997;31(6):429-33. doi:10.1159/000262434