E326Antioxidant · Emulsifier · Humectant

Potassium lactate

What the research shows

Prototype

Not enough

published research on this page yet

1 health finding on this page so far · See the findings

A substance made by neutralising lactic acid from sugar.

It is used in meat and poultry to extend shelf life and slow the growth of microorganisms.

Written from Open Food Facts and English Wikipedia12

  • Vegan
  • Vegetarian
  • EU permitted

What research says

Animal and lab studies only

How it’s made and used

  • Fish shelf life3

    Potassium lactate, mixed with potassium acetate, helped catfish fillets last longer in the fridge and taste better to consumers.

  • Food poisoning bacteria in fish5

    In lab tests, potassium lactate with sodium diacetate slowed Listeria growth in cold-smoked salmon for up to 42 days.

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 two findings in people. 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.

Regulatory status

Checked Sep 2026

Status reflects the named register on the date checked. It is not a safety rating.

How we check

Products

The 6 most-scanned of 2,749 products on Open Food Facts that list potassium lactate.

  • Nuggets de poulet Douce france · 1 kg 2 additives
  • Meatless Farm Meatless Farm 2 additives
  • Dairylea lunchers 10 additives
  • Produit à base de viande de poulet traité en solution, cuite Lidl 5 additives
  • Lunchers Ham 'N' Cheese dairylea 11 additives
  • Brunswick Ham Dulano 5 additives

References

  1. 1potassium lactate: ingredient taxonomy entry. Open Food Facts.
  2. 2Potassium lactate. Wikipedia. Accessed September 25, 2026.
  3. 3Kin S, Schilling MW, Smith BS, et al. Potassium acetate and potassium lactate enhance the microbiological and physical properties of marinated catfish fillets. J Food Sci. 2011;76(4):S242-50. doi:10.1111/j.1750-3841.2011.02122.x
  4. 4Kennedy KM, Milkowski AL, Glass KA. Inhibition of Clostridium perfringens growth by potassium lactate during an extended cooling of cooked uncured ground turkey breasts. J Food Prot. 2013;76(11):1972-6. doi:10.4315/0362-028X.JFP-13-106
  5. 5Vogel BF, Ng YY, Hyldig G, Mohr M, Gram L. Potassium lactate combined with sodium diacetate can inhibit growth of Listeria monocytogenes in vacuum-packed cold-smoked salmon and has no adverse sensory effects. J Food Prot. 2006;69(9):2134-42. doi:10.4315/0362-028x-69.9.2134