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E302AntioxidantLow concern
Calcium Ascorbate
In plain words
The short version
The calcium salt of vitamin C — combines antioxidant and calcium-fortification roles.
Why it's green
It's widely considered safe at the amounts used in food, so we mark it green. The Safety section below has the details.
Safety profile
ADI not specified — well-tolerated. Each gram of calcium ascorbate contains about 100 mg of calcium and 800 mg of ascorbate. Excess vitamin C is excreted; excess calcium intake is mainly a concern from supplements rather than food-level fortification.
The detail
Produced by neutralizing ascorbic acid with calcium carbonate. Provides one molecule of calcium per two ascorbate ions — a convenient way to deliver vitamin C and a modest calcium contribution in the same ingredient.
Used in fortified juices, supplements, infant formula, and combined calcium-vitamin chewable tablets. Provides the neutral-pH antioxidant function of sodium ascorbate while contributing dietary calcium. Slightly bitter calcium taste in higher doses.
White to slightly yellow crystalline powder. Very soluble in water. Less acidic than ascorbic acid (pH 6.8–7.4 in solution). Light-sensitive in solution.
Permitted globally without restrictive limits.
Sources
- EFSA — Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of ascorbic acid (E 300), sodium ascorbate (E 301) and calcium ascorbate (E 302) as food additives (2015) — EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources (ANS), EFSA Journal 13(5):4087, 2015. No numerical ADI needed; no safety concern
- JECFA — Calcium ascorbate (INS 302), evaluation summary — WHO / Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives, 1981. JECFA group ADI not specified
- US 21 CFR 182.3189 — Calcium ascorbate (GRAS) — US eCFR (Office of the Federal Register), 2026. US GRAS status
- Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 on food additives, consolidated text (18.08.2026), Annex II Group I — EUR-Lex (European Union), 2026. EU authorisation at quantum satis
Checked against these sources on .
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