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E335AcidulantLow concern
Sodium Tartrate
In plain words
The short version
The sodium salt of tartaric acid — buffer and sequestrant in jellies, dairy, and supplements.
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
EFSA (2020) set a group ADI of 240 mg/kg body weight per day for L(+)-tartaric acid and its tartrates (E334–E337, E354), expressed as tartaric acid. JECFA's older ADI (1973) is 0–30 mg/kg body weight, expressed as L(+)-tartaric acid. Same negligible toxicity as other tartrate salts. Mild laxative at high doses.
The detail
Produced by neutralizing tartaric acid with sodium hydroxide or carbonate. Less common in industry than the potassium form (cream of tartar) but used where sodium contribution and gentler pH suit the application.
Buffer and sequestrant in jellies and marmalades (binds trace metals that catalyze color and flavor degradation), pH adjustment in yogurts, and a calcium-binding sequestrant in some supplements.
Colorless crystalline powder. Soluble in water; mildly alkaline solution. Crystalline form is the dihydrate.
Permitted globally without restrictive limits.
Sources
- EFSA FAF Panel: Re-evaluation of L(+)-tartaric acid (E 334), sodium tartrates (E 335), potassium tartrates (E 336), potassium sodium tartrate (E 337) and calcium tartrate (E 354) as food additives (2020) — European Food Safety Authority (EFSA Journal), 2020. Current EU group ADI of 240 mg/kg bw per day
- WHO JECFA database: Sodium L(+)-tartrate (INS 335(ii)), 17th meeting evaluation (1973) — WHO / Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives, 1973. JECFA ADI 0-30 mg/kg bw as L(+)-tartaric acid
- 21 CFR 184.1801: Sodium tartrate (GRAS) — U.S. FDA / eCFR, 1983. US GRAS status (dihydrate, disodium L(+)-tartrate), used at GMP
- Commission Regulation (EU) No 1129/2011: Union list of food additives (Annex II to Reg. 1333/2008), as adopted — European Union (text via legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives), 2011. EU authorisation at quantum satis (Group I)
Checked against these sources on .
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