Food Additive · EU 524
Sodium Hydroxide
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 Hydroxide 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 #154 of 417.
- #154 of 417 by tracked product prevalence
The verdict
Sodium Hydroxide is FDA-approved, and no U.S. state has moved to restrict it. By Open Food Facts product count it sits #154 of 417 among additives with tracked product presence (63rd percentile).
- 4/5
- Low Risk
- Approved
- FDA status
- #154 of 417
- product-prevalence rank
- 0
- state regulations
Product-footprint and regulatory snapshot
Sodium Hydroxide: 60 tracked U.S. products (moderate band, #154 of 417) frame how often this additive appears on shelves.
| Property | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tracked Products | 60 · #154 of 417 | Open Food Facts (US) |
| FDA Status | Approved | FDA SAFFA |
| EU Status | Approved | EC 1333/2008 |
| E-Number | 524 | 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 |
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 Hydroxide?
Sodium Hydroxide is a food additive (524) classified as food additive.
Common Uses
Shelf-footprint peer axes
Nationwide peers for a moderate OFF footprint
Nearest OFF product-count peers (60 tracked here); safety-score column omitted on prevalence-led pages.
Nearest OFF product count to 60
Nearest other additives by Open Food Facts product count (floored at ≥50).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sodium Hydroxide safe to consume?
Sodium Hydroxide scores 4/5 (Low Risk). FDA status is Approved. On the Open Food Facts U.S. sample it is a moderate additive (60 tracked products, #154 of 417), so product footprint, not just the score label, frames how widely a shopper will meet it.
What is Sodium Hydroxide used for in food?
Sodium Hydroxide shows up as Various processed foods in the Food Additive class, and the OFF sample puts it in the moderate footprint band (60 products).
Where does Sodium Hydroxide sit among food additives PlainIngredients tracks?
Among additives with at least one tracked product, it ranks #154 of 417 by Open Food Facts product count. See /methodology#corpus-placement for the ranking bases.