About
Magnesium chloride is an inorganic salt of magnesium and chloride ions used in food as a firming agent, colour retention agent, and coagulant (notably in tofu production). It is also a source of the essential mineral magnesium and occurs naturally in seawater and brine.
Safety summary
EFSA's 2019 re-evaluation concluded that exposure to magnesium chloride as a food additive does not raise a safety concern at reported use levels, with mean exposures in all adult age groups at or below the reference value of 40 mg chloride/kg bw/day. The compound is of low acute oral toxicity, with no genotoxicity or carcinogenicity concerns identified. High supplemental doses of readily dissociable magnesium salts (including MgCl2) above 250 mg/day of elemental magnesium may cause osmotic diarrhoea in sensitive individuals, but this is not a concern at typical food-additive use levels.
Regulatory landscape
| Jurisdiction | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union) | Approved | Authorised under Annex II and III to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 as a firming agent and colour retention agent. ADI is 'not specified' (group ADI with hydrochloric acid and other chloride salts E507–E509). Re-evaluated by EFSA FAF Panel in 2019 with no safety concern identified at use levels.source |
| FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India) | Approved | Listed as INS 511 in the FSSAI Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011 (as amended). Permitted in specified food categories per Appendix A of those regulations.source |
| JECFA (JECFA (FAO/WHO)) | Approved | INS 511; functional classes include colour retention agent and firming agent. ADI included in the group ADI for hydrochloric acid and bases (not numerically specified). JECFA evaluated at meetings 23 and 27; specifications in FAO Combined Compendium of Food Additive Specifications.source |
| FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (United States) | Approved | Affirmed as Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) under 21 CFR 184.1426 for use as a nutrient supplement, firming agent, and flavour enhancer. No upper limit (UL) established for magnesium naturally present in food.source |
Who should approach with care
Research citations
- 1FDA. 21 CFR 184.1426 – Magnesium chloride (GRAS affirmation). accessdata.fda.gov
- 2WHO. JECFA Monograph – Magnesium Chloride (INS 511). apps.who.int
- 3EFSA. Safety of mineral salt containing potassium and magnesium as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283, 2025. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 4EFSA. Re-evaluation of hydrochloric acid (E 507), potassium chloride (E 508), calcium chloride (E 509) and magnesium chloride (E 511) as food additives, 2019. efsa.europa.eu
- 5PubMed. Re-evaluation of hydrochloric acid (E 507), potassium chloride (E 508), calcium chloride (E 509) and magnesium chloride (E 511) as food additives, 2019. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
