About
Aluminium-free baking powder is a chemical leavening mixture used in baked goods to produce carbon dioxide gas and cause dough or batter to rise; it typically comprises sodium bicarbonate (E500/INS 500) as the base, an acid such as cream of tartar (potassium bitartrate, E336) or monocalcium phosphate (E341), and a filler such as starch or cornflour, with no aluminium-containing compounds (e.g., sodium aluminium phosphate E541 or aluminium sulphates E520–523). It is chosen by manufacturers and consumers who wish to avoid dietary aluminium exposure.
Safety summary
All component ingredients of aluminium-free baking powder — sodium bicarbonate, potassium bitartrate, monocalcium phosphate, and starch — are GRAS-affirmed by the FDA and broadly approved across major jurisdictions with no Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) restriction under normal conditions of use. Because it contains no aluminium compounds, it avoids the concern highlighted by EFSA and JECFA that aluminium-containing baking powder acids (E541, E520–523) can cause estimated exposures to exceed the TWI of 1 mg Al/kg body weight per week in high-consuming individuals, particularly children. No IARC classification, carcinogenicity concern, or significant toxicological finding applies to the non-aluminium components at typical dietary intake levels.
Regulatory landscape
| Jurisdiction | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union) | Approved | Component ingredients (E500 sodium carbonates, E336 potassium tartrates, E341 calcium phosphates) are approved under Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 with no numerical ADI. EFSA's 2008 assessment established a TWI of 1 mg Al/kg bw for all aluminium compounds combined; aluminium-free baking powder is specifically formulated to avoid E541 (sodium aluminium phosphate) and E520–523 (aluminium sulphates), which were re-evaluated in 2018 due to concerns about TWI exceedance in children.source |
| Food Standards Agency (FSA) / Food Standards Scotland (FSS) (United Kingdom) | Approved | Post-Brexit UK retained EU food additive approvals for E500, E336, and E341 as permitted leavening agents. Aluminium-containing leavening acids (E520–523, E541) are listed separately and not present in aluminium-free formulations.source |
| FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India) | Approved | FSSAI recognises leavening/raising agents including sodium bicarbonate (INS 500ii) and potassium bitartrate (INS 336) under the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, Appendix A. Aluminium-free baking powder uses only these permitted non-aluminium components. ADI is not numerically restricted for these components under GMP conditions.source |
| FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (United States) |
Who should approach with care
Research citations
- 1FSSAI. Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011 — Chapter 3: Substances Added to Food. fssai.gov.in
- 2FDA. GRAS Notice 718 — Calcium acid pyrophosphate as a leavening acid (aluminium-free raising agent). fda.gov
- 3FDA. Food Additive Status List — 21 CFR listings for sodium bicarbonate, potassium bitartrate, monocalcium phosphate, 2026. fda.gov
- 4PubMed. Re‐evaluation of aluminium sulphates (E 520–523) and sodium aluminium phosphate (E 541) as food additives, 2018. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 5EFSA. Safety of aluminium from dietary intake — Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Food Additives, Flavourings, Processing Aids and Food Contact Materials (AFC), 2008. efsa.europa.eu