FDA Status
Approved
Antioxidant · EU 301
Sodium Ascorbate
FDA status: Approved. EU: Approved. No U.S. state has enacted a specific ban yet.
4.0 / 5
Composite safety Low Risk
Score 4 of 5
Sodium Ascorbate: 4/5 (Low Risk)
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Sodium Ascorbate 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. It is more widely-used than most tracked additives.
- 82th percentile by tracked product prevalence
The verdict
Sodium Ascorbate is FDA-approved, and no U.S. state has moved to restrict it. It is more widely-used than most tracked additives (82th percentile by tracked product count).
- 4/5
- Low Risk
- Approved
- FDA status
- 82th pctile
- by product prevalence
- 0
- state regulations
Sodium Ascorbate (301) is a antioxidant additive holding a composite safety score of 4 out of 5 (Low Risk). According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Substances Added to Food inventory, it is currently classified as Approved, while the European Union lists it as Approved. This ingredient appears in approximately 486 tracked food products across our database. It is most commonly used as Oils, fats, processed foods, baked goods.
No U.S. state has enacted specific legislation targeting Sodium Ascorbate to date, keeping federal FDA classification as the operative standard. State-level food safety legislation remains active nationally, and that picture may shift as new bills advance.
Peer-reviewed research has flagged 1 distinct area of health concern for Sodium Ascorbate, which factors directly into the assigned safety score. The European Food Safety Authority has published an evaluation dated 2015/05/06. All figures above draw on FDA SAFFA inventory records, EU food additive regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, EFSA scientific opinions where published, and legislative records from individual U.S. states.
Regulatory Snapshot
| Property | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| FDA Status | Approved | FDA SAFFA |
| EU Status | Approved | EC 1333/2008 |
| E-Number | 301 | EU additive register |
| CAS Number | - | CAS Registry |
| Category | Antioxidant | 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 | 486 | 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.
EU Status
Approved
301
U.S. State Regulations
0 states
None enacted
Safety Assessment
Sodium Ascorbate's 4/5 (Low Risk) score reflects where this specific ingredient lands on that scale. The FDA has approved Sodium Ascorbate for use in food products under specified conditions.
Research has identified 1 area of health concern associated with Sodium Ascorbate. Consumers with specific health conditions should consult a healthcare provider before consuming products containing this ingredient.
How Sodium Ascorbate compares
Where a safety score of 4/5 falls among all 4,509 scored ingredients tracked on PlainIngredients.
Ingredients by safety score (Sodium Ascorbate highlighted)
4,369 of 4,509 scored ingredients (96.9%) share a safety score of 4/5.
What is Sodium Ascorbate?
SODIUM ASCORBATE is one of a number of mineral salts of ascorbic acid -vitamin C-.
Health Concerns
- EFSA evaluation: Scientific Opinion on the re‐evaluation of ascorbic acid -E 300-, sodium ascorbate -E 301- and calcium ascorbate -E 302- as food additives
Common Uses
Oils, fats, processed foods, baked goods
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sodium Ascorbate safe to consume?
Sodium Ascorbate has a safety score of 4/5 (Low Risk). It is approved by the FDA for use in food. As with all food additives, moderation is advisable.
What is Sodium Ascorbate used for in food?
Sodium Ascorbate is commonly used as: Oils, fats, processed foods, baked goods. It belongs to the Antioxidant category of food additives.
Is Sodium Ascorbate banned in any US states?
Currently, no US states have enacted specific bans or regulations targeting Sodium Ascorbate. However, state food safety legislation is evolving rapidly.
What is the difference between FDA and EU regulation of Sodium Ascorbate?
The FDA classifies Sodium Ascorbate as "Approved", while the EU status is "Approved" (301). The FDA and EU use separate evaluation frameworks, the EU often applies the precautionary principle, sometimes banning additives that remain approved in the US. Always check both jurisdictions when evaluating food additive safety.
What health concerns are associated with Sodium Ascorbate?
Research has identified the following health concerns for Sodium Ascorbate: EFSA evaluation: Scientific Opinion on the re‐evaluation of ascorbic acid -E 300-, sodium ascorbate -E 301- and calcium ascorbate -E 302- as food additives. These findings inform its safety score of 4/5. Consult a healthcare provider for personalized guidance, especially if you have pre-existing conditions.
How is the safety score for Sodium Ascorbate calculated?
The safety score of 4/5 for Sodium Ascorbate is a composite assessment based on FDA regulatory status, EU approval status, published scientific research on health effects, and state-level legislative actions. A score of 1 means "Banned / Avoid" and 5 means "Generally Safe." The score is updated as new regulatory actions or scientific evidence emerge.
Data Sources
- FDA Substances Added to Food (SAFFA) Inventory
- EU Food Additive Regulations (EC) No 1333/2008
- State food safety legislation and bill records
What to do about Sodium Ascorbate
Use the regulatory picture, not a single score, to decide.
- Check the FDA status (Approved) and EU status (Approved) before assuming it is risk-free. How we score
- Compare it against the most-restricted additives in the U.S. supply. View rankings
- Scan a whole ingredient label at once to flag the concerning entries. Label checker
Safety scores summarise regulatory status and published concerns; they are not medical or dietary advice.
Every figure on PlainIngredients is rendered directly from FDA, EU, EFSA and U.S. state regulatory records, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.