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E333AcidulantLow concern
Calcium Citrate
In plain words
The short version
The calcium salt of citric acid — gentle calcium fortifier, well-absorbed without stomach acid.
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. Excess calcium intake mainly an issue from supplements (not from food-level fortification).
The detail
Produced by reacting citric acid with calcium hydroxide or calcium carbonate. The tricalcium form is the standard food and supplement grade.
The dominant calcium-fortification source in plant-milk alternatives (soy, almond, oat milks) and calcium-fortified orange juice. Also used as a firming agent and buffer in cheese, and as a calcium supplement form (unlike calcium carbonate, calcium citrate does not require stomach acid for absorption, making it preferred for elderly users and PPI patients).
White crystalline powder. Sparingly soluble in water (more soluble than calcium carbonate). Stable in storage.
Permitted globally without restrictive limits.
Sources
- JECFA — Calcium citrate (INS 333), evaluation 1973 — WHO / Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives, 1973. safety: JECFA ADI not limited (not specified)
- 21 CFR 184.1195 — Calcium citrate (affirmed GRAS) — US eCFR (Office of the Federal Register), 2026. regulation and origin: GRAS with no limit other than GMP; made from citric acid and calcium hydroxide/carbonate
- Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 on food additives, Annex II Part C, Group I (consolidated text of 18.08.2026) — EUR-Lex, Publications Office of the European Union, 2026. regulation: EU Group I additive at quantum satis
Checked against these sources on .
Educational information only. Not medical, dietary or veterinary advice. Spotted an error? Tell us.