E535
Sodium ferrocyanide
What the research shows
Concerning
in animal and lab studies only
A yellow crystalline solid that dissolves in water.1
- Vegan
- Vegetarian
- EU permitted
What research says
Animal and lab studies only
-
Concern
Kidney health2
In animal studies, sodium ferrocyanide caused occasional kidney effects, but experts set a safe daily intake level.
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
Acceptable daily intake: up to 0.025 mg per kg of body weight.
Regulatory status
Checked Sep 2026-
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 · Anticaking Agents
Status reflects the named register on the date checked. It is not a safety rating. A country appears here once we've found this ingredient on its official list.
How we checkProducts
The 6 most-scanned of 250 products on Open Food Facts that list sodium ferrocyanide.
- Table salt Stonemill · 750 g 1 additive
- Fine Sea Salt Sainsbury's · 350 g 1 additive
- Kosher salt Morton · 48 oz 1 additive
- Coarse Kosher Salt Morton · 1.2 g 1 additive
- Beef Stock Sainsbury's · 450 g 1 additive
- ASDA Table Salt Asda · 750 grams 1 additive
References
- 1Sodium ferrocyanide. Wikipedia. Accessed September 26, 2026. CC BY-SA 4.0.
- 2Younes M, Aggett P, Aguilar F, et al. Re-evaluation of sodium ferrocyanide (E 535), potassium ferrocyanide (E 536) and calcium ferrocyanide (E 538) as food additives. EFSA J. 2018;16(7):e05374. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2018.5374