E334Antioxidant · Sequestrant
L(+)-tartaric acid
What the research shows
Concerning
in animal and lab studies only
What research says
Studies in people
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Open question
Food poisoning bacteria on chicken3
Tartaric acid in chicken marinade reduced Listeria bacteria, and tasters still liked the chicken.
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Benefit
Colon function4
In healthy adults, cream of tartar, a source of tartaric acid, softened stools and shortened gut transit time.
Animal and lab studies only
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Concern
Kidney health5
In animal studies, kidney effects from tartrates seemed tied to the D-form, not L(+)-tartaric acid.
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), 2017
Acceptable daily intake: up to 30 mg per kg of body weight.
Regulatory status
Checked Sep 2026-
United States Permitted FDA 21 CFR 184.1099
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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 · Adjusting Agents
Status reflects the named register on the date checked. It is not a safety rating.
How we checkProducts
The 6 most-scanned of 2,783 products on Open Food Facts that list l(+)-tartaric acid.
- Momo black Excelo · 36 g 6 additives
- Lay's Potato Chips Lay's · 50 g 3 additives
- Ciabatta Schär · 200 g 3 additives
- Cake marbré chocolat Schär · 250 g 7 additives
- Starmix HARIBO · 175 g 6 additives
- Breakfast Muffins Warburtons · 256 g (4) 5 additives
References
- 1L(+)-tartaric acid: ingredient taxonomy entry. Open Food Facts.
- 2Tartaric acid. Wikipedia. Accessed September 26, 2026. CC BY-SA 4.0.
- 3Over KF, Hettiarachchy NS, Perumalla AV, et al. Antilisterial activity and consumer acceptance of irradiated chicken breast meat vacuum-infused with grape seed and green tea extracts and tartaric acid. J Food Sci. 2010;75(7):M455-61. doi:10.1111/j.1750-3841.2010.01727.x
- 4Spiller GA, Story JA, Furumoto EJ, Chezem JC, Spiller M. Effect of tartaric acid and dietary fibre from sun-dried raisins on colonic function and on bile acid and volatile fatty acid excretion in healthy adults. Br J Nutr. 2003;90(4):803-7. doi:10.1079/bjn2003966
- 5Younes M, Aquilina G, Castle L, et al. Re-evaluation of l(+)-tartaric acid (E 334), sodium tartrates (E 335), potassium tartrates (E 336), potassium sodium tartrate (E 337) and calcium tartrate (E 354) as food additives. EFSA J. 2020;18(3):e06030. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2020.6030