Allervibe
E302
Calcium ascorbate
The calcium salt of ascorbic acid (vitamin C), used as a food antioxidant.
i Additive Details
| Is E302 Calcium ascorbate safe?
Considered safe at the levels used in food. It contributes calcium, which is only relevant for people who have been advised to limit their calcium intake or who take large supplement doses. Very high doses of vitamin C from supplements, rather than from the additive, can cause gastrointestinal upset.
| Uses
Protects fats, cut fruit and vegetables, fruit juices, cured meats and bakery products from oxidation and browning. It dissolves in water without adding the sourness of ascorbic acid, and it supplies both vitamin C and a small amount of calcium. It is also used in food supplements as a non-acidic form of vitamin C.
| Interactions
Like the other ascorbates, it is used with sodium nitrite (E250) in cured meat, where it accelerates curing and limits nitrosamine formation. It is often paired with tocopherols (E306 to E309) or citric acid (E330), which extend its antioxidant effect in fatty foods.
| Origin
Produced by neutralising ascorbic acid with calcium carbonate. The ascorbic acid is made industrially from glucose by fermentation and chemical conversion, not extracted from fruit.
| Daily Intake
No numerical ADI has been set; regulators treat ascorbic acid and its sodium and calcium salts as acceptable at the levels required for their technical purpose. The reference intake of vitamin C for adults is around 80 to 110 mg per day.
Information is sourced from public regulatory bodies (EFSA, FDA, WHO) and is for reference only. Always read the package and consult a healthcare professional for medical advice.
Related additives
- E321 Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) A synthetic phenolic antioxidant used to delay rancidity in fats, oils and fat-containing foods.
- E301 Sodium ascorbate The sodium salt of ascorbic acid (vitamin C), used as an antioxidant in food.
- E304 Ascorbyl palmitate A fat-soluble form of vitamin C, made by joining ascorbic acid to palmitic acid.
- E306 Tocopherol-rich extract A natural mixture of tocopherols (vitamin E) obtained from vegetable oils and used as an antioxidant.
- E307 Alpha-tocopherol A single form of vitamin E, normally produced synthetically, used as an antioxidant in fats and oils.
- E392 Extracts of rosemary A plant extract from rosemary leaves, used as a natural antioxidant in fatty foods.
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