Thickener · EU 500
Sodium 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, Sodium 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 #128 of 417.
- #128 of 417 by tracked product prevalence
The verdict
Sodium Carbonate is FDA-approved, and no U.S. state has moved to restrict it. By Open Food Facts product count it sits #128 of 417 among additives with tracked product presence (69th percentile).
- 4/5
- Low Risk
- Approved
- FDA status
- #128 of 417
- product-prevalence rank
- 0
- state regulations
Product-footprint and regulatory snapshot
Sodium Carbonate: 114 tracked U.S. products (common band, #128 of 417) frame how often this additive appears on shelves.
| Property | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tracked Products | 114 · #128 of 417 | Open Food Facts (US) |
| FDA Status | Approved | FDA SAFFA |
| EU Status | Approved | EC 1333/2008 |
| E-Number | 500 | EU additive register |
| CAS Number | - | CAS Registry |
| Category | Thickener | 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 |
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 Sodium Carbonate?
SODIUM CARBONATE, -also known as washing soda, soda ash and soda crystals, and in the monohydrate form as crystal carbonate- is the water-soluble sodium salt of carbonic acid.
Health Concerns
- EFSA evaluation: Scientific Opinion on the safety evaluation of the active substances citric acid -E330- and sodium hydrogen carbonate -E500ii-, used as carbon dioxide
Common Uses
Shelf-footprint peer axes
Nationwide peers for a common OFF footprint
Nearest OFF product-count peers (114 tracked here); safety-score column omitted on prevalence-led pages.
Nearest OFF product count to 114
Nearest other additives by Open Food Facts product count (floored at ≥50).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sodium Carbonate safe to consume?
Sodium Carbonate scores 4/5 (Low Risk). FDA status is Approved. On the Open Food Facts U.S. sample it is a common additive (114 tracked products, #128 of 417), so product footprint, not just the score label, frames how widely a shopper will meet it.
What is Sodium Carbonate used for in food?
Sodium Carbonate shows up as Sauces, soups, dairy products, baked goods in the Thickener class, and the OFF sample puts it in the common footprint band (114 products).
Where does Sodium Carbonate sit among food additives PlainIngredients tracks?
Among additives with at least one tracked product, it ranks #128 of 417 by Open Food Facts product count. See /methodology#corpus-placement for the ranking bases.
What health concerns are associated with Sodium Carbonate?
Research has identified the following health concerns for Sodium Carbonate: EFSA evaluation: Scientific Opinion on the safety evaluation of the active substances citric acid -E330- and sodium hydrogen carbonate -E500ii-, used as carbon dioxide. These findings inform its safety score of 4/5. Consult a healthcare provider for personalized guidance, especially if you have pre-existing conditions.