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E380AcidulantLow concern
Triammonium Citrate
In plain words
The short version
The ammonium salt of citric acid — common processed-cheese melting salt.
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 — considered safe at typical use levels. Ammonium is metabolized in the urea cycle; the dose from food use is well below any nitrogen-load threshold for healthy individuals (matters more for patients with liver-cycle disorders).
The detail
Produced by neutralizing citric acid (E330) with aqueous ammonia. Less common than the sodium or potassium citrates because the residual ammoniacal taste limits applications.
Used primarily as a melting salt in processed cheese, cheese slices, and cheese spreads where it complements sodium phosphates in dispersing milk-protein and emulsifying fat. Less common in beverages or supplements.
White crystalline powder. Very soluble in water. Faint ammoniacal odor. Slightly acidic solution.
Permitted in the EU and most jurisdictions for processed cheese and similar applications.
Sources
- JECFA — Ammonium citrate / triammonium citrate (INS 380), evaluation 1979 — Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (WHO), 1979. Safety: no numerical ADI (included in citric acid ADI)
- Commission Regulation (EU) No 1129/2011 — Union list of food additives, Part C Group I — Publications Office of the European Union, 2011. EU: authorised as 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.