Back to catalogSafety
E353AcidulantLow concern
Metatartaric Acid
In plain words
The short version
A polymerized form of tartaric acid — added to wine to prevent cold-temperature tartrate crystallization.
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
JECFA (2017) included metatartaric acid used in winemaking in the group ADI of 0–30 mg/kg body weight for L(+)-tartaric acid and its sodium, potassium and potassium–sodium salts, expressed as L(+)-tartaric acid, because it is enzymatically hydrolysed to tartaric acid before it is absorbed. Same negligible toxicity profile.
The detail
Produced by controlled thermal polymerization of L-tartaric acid (E334). The resulting polymer has limited stability — slowly hydrolyzes back to tartaric acid in solution.
Specifically added to wine and some fruit beverages to delay the precipitation of potassium bitartrate crystals ("wine diamonds") that otherwise form on chilled storage. Typical addition 100 mg/L. A transient stabilizer — its protective effect lasts months, not years.
Yellowish glassy or fibrous solid. Soluble in water. Hygroscopic and slowly hydrolyzes — must be added shortly before bottling.
Permitted in the EU as an authorised oenological practice in wine and, as a food additive, at up to 100 mg/l only in made wine and certain related wine products.
Sources
- JECFA database: Metatartaric acid (INS 353), group ADI 0–30 mg/kg bw (2017) — WHO / Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), 2017. Hydrolysed to tartaric acid; included in tartaric acid group ADI
- Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, consolidated text of 18.08.2026 (Annex II, category 14.2.4 fruit wine and made wine) — Publications Office of the European Union, 2026. EU food-additive use limited to made wine and related products, 100 mg/l
- Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/934 on authorised oenological practices (Annex I Part A, Table 2, item 6.7) — Publications Office of the European Union (Official Journal L 149), 2019. Authorised in EU winemaking
Checked against these sources on .
Educational information only. Not medical, dietary or veterinary advice. Spotted an error? Tell us.