E301Antioxidant
Sodium ascorbate
What the research shows
Not enough
published research on this page yet
One of a number of mineral salts of ascorbic acid (vitamin C).1
- Vegan
- Vegetarian
- EU permitted
What research says
Animal and lab studies only
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Open question
Tuna meat colour3
Sodium ascorbate turns defrosted tuna meat red, which can hide spoilage that might contain histamine.
How it’s made and used
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Vitamin C and sodium in infant formula2
Sodium ascorbate added to infant formula would only slightly raise its vitamin C and sodium.
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 182.3731
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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 6,643 products on Open Food Facts that list sodium ascorbate.
- Viande des GRISONS Aoste · 70 g (10 tranches) 3 additives
- Cheerios General Mills · 8.9 oz 2 additives
- Cheerios General Mills · 18oz (510 g) 2 additives
- Toasted Whole Grain Oat Cereal Cheerios · 2 x 1 lb 4.35 oz (20.35 oz) (576 g) 2 additives
- Honey Nut Cheerios General Mills · 10.8 oz 1 additive
- Regina sourdough pizza ham mushroom & mozzarella Crosta & Mollica 2 additives
References
- 1Sodium ascorbate: ingredient taxonomy entry. Open Food Facts.
- 2EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources added to Food (ANS). Scientific Opinion on the use of sodium ascorbate as a food additive in vitamin D preparations intended to be used in formulae and weaning food for infants and young children. EFSA J. 2010;8(12):1942. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2010.1942
- 3Howes BD, Milazzo L, Droghetti E, Nocentini M, Smulevich G. Addition of sodium ascorbate to extend the shelf-life of tuna meat fish: A risk or a benefit for consumers? J Inorg Biochem. 2019;200:110813. doi:10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2019.110813