About
What it is and where it shows up.
Sodium ascorbate is the sodium salt of ascorbic acid (vitamin C), used as an antioxidant and preservative in food to prevent oxidative deterioration and rancidity. It also serves as a source of vitamin C in fortified foods and infant formulae.
Safety summary
The regulatory and scientific consensus.
Sodium ascorbate is considered safe for the general adult population with no established ADI, as the ascorbate moiety is an essential nutrient metabolised normally at food-additive intake levels. The EFSA ANS Panel re-evaluated it in 2015 and found no safety concern under typical use conditions. Individuals on sodium-restricted diets should note its sodium content (~11.6% by weight), but this contribution is marginal at normal food-additive doses.
Regulatory landscape
What food-safety regulators have decided.
| Jurisdiction | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union) | Approved | Authorised as antioxidant E 301 in a wide range of food categories under EU food additive regulations; re-evaluated by EFSA ANS Panel in 2015 with no safety concern identified. Also permitted as vitamin C source in infant formulae and follow-on formulae under Directive 2006/141/EC.source |
| FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India) | Approved | Permitted as INS 301 (sodium ascorbate) under the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, including use in infant formula at GMP-level quantities singly or in combination with ascorbic acid (INS 300) and calcium ascorbate (INS 302), expressed as ascorbic acid up to 5 mg/100 ml.source |
| FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (United States) | Approved | Listed as GRAS under 21 CFR §182.3731 for use as a preservative/antioxidant in food at GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) levels. No numerical maximum limit set.source |
Who should approach with care
Whose guidance would steer them away.
Hypertension — Sodium ascorbate contains approximately 11.6% sodium by weight; individuals on strict sodium-restricted diets for hypertension management should account for this contribution, particularly from high-dose supplement forms rather than food-additive levels.
Kidney Disease — Patients with chronic kidney disease may have impaired sodium and ascorbate excretion; high supplemental doses of sodium ascorbate could exacerbate sodium load and risk oxalate deposition, warranting medical supervision.
G6pd Deficiency — High-dose ascorbate (including sodium ascorbate) has been associated with haemolytic anaemia in individuals with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency; supplemental use should be discussed with a physician.
Infants — EFSA and FSSAI both specify maximum carry-over and usage limits for sodium ascorbate in infant formulae to ensure sodium and ascorbate contributions remain within safe nutritional ranges for this sensitive population.
Research citations
The sources behind this verdict.
- 1FDA. Code of Federal Regulations Title 21, Part 182 – Substances Generally Recognized as Safe: Sodium Ascorbate. accessdata.fda.gov
- 2WHO. JECFA Database: Sodium Ascorbate. apps.who.int
- 3FSSAI. Food Safety and Standards (Infant Foods) Regulations – Version II (04.01.2024), 2024. fssai.gov.in
- 4EFSA. Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of ascorbic acid (E 300), sodium ascorbate (E 301) and calcium ascorbate (E 302) as food additives, 2015. efsa.europa.eu
- 5EFSA. 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, 2010. efsa.europa.eu
Independently researched5 citations