Food Additive · EU 503
Ammonium Carbonate
FDA status: Approved. EU: Approved. No U.S. state has enacted a specific ban yet.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Ammonium Carbonate is FDA-approved, and no U.S. state has moved to restrict it independently of federal policy. Its composite safety score is 4 out of 5 (Low Risk), and the European Union separately classifies it as approved. By tracked product count it ranks #281 of 417.
- #281 of 417 by tracked product prevalence
The verdict
Ammonium Carbonate is FDA-approved, and no U.S. state has moved to restrict it. By Open Food Facts product count it sits #281 of 417 among additives with tracked product presence (29th percentile).
- 4/5
- Low Risk
- Approved
- FDA status
- #281 of 417
- product-prevalence rank
- 0
- state regulations
Regulatory snapshot
Ammonium Carbonate: composite 4/5 (Low Risk) with FDA Approved and EU Approved.
| Property | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| FDA Status | Approved | FDA SAFFA |
| EU Status | Approved | EC 1333/2008 |
| E-Number | 503 | EU additive register |
| CAS Number | - | CAS Registry |
| Category | Food Additive | FDA functional class |
| Composite Safety Score | 4 / 5 (Low Risk) | PlainIngredients methodology |
| EFSA ADI | Not established | EFSA scientific opinion |
| U.S. State Actions | 0 states | State legislative records |
| Tracked Products | 4 | Open Food Facts (US) |
Values reflect official agency classifications as published by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Union's regulatory framework. See our methodology for scoring details.
What is Ammonium Carbonate?
AMMONIUM CARBONATE is a salt with the chemical formula -NH4-2CO3. Since it readily degrades to gaseous ammonia and carbon dioxide upon heating, it is used as a leavening agent. It is also known as baker's ammonia and was a predecessor to the more modern leavening agents baking soda and baking powder.
Common Uses
Catalog-profile peer axes
Nationwide catalog-profile peers for Ammonium Carbonate
Product-count (4) and safety-score (4/5) peer columns, disjoint link sets.
Score 4/5 peers (≥50 OFF products)
Nearest other additives by PlainIngredients safety score (floored at ≥50 tracked products), distinct from the count row.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ammonium Carbonate safe to consume?
Ammonium Carbonate scores 4/5 (Low Risk). FDA status is Approved. In the lower-concern band the federal listing is the primary signal; EU status is Approved. Moderation still applies to any additive.
What is Ammonium Carbonate used for in food?
Ammonium Carbonate is commonly used as: Various processed foods. It belongs to the Food Additive category of food additives.
Where does Ammonium Carbonate sit among food additives PlainIngredients tracks?
Among additives with at least one tracked product, it ranks #281 of 417 by Open Food Facts product count. See /methodology#corpus-placement for the ranking bases.