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E508Flavor enhancerLow concern
Potassium Chloride
In plain words
The short version
The main salt substitute — gives a salty taste with less sodium, used across reduced-sodium foods and drinks.
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
No ADI required for food use, and potassium is an essential nutrient. However, a large potassium load is risky for people with kidney disease or on potassium-sparing medication (risk of hyperkalemia). It tastes bitter or metallic at higher levels, which limits how much replaces salt.
The detail
A naturally occurring mineral salt (sylvite), mined or recovered from brine. Chemically potassium chloride, KCl.
Chiefly a salt substitute and seasoning — it provides a salty taste with less sodium, so it is ubiquitous in 'reduced-sodium' and 'low-salt' foods, salt-replacer blends, and sports/electrolyte drinks. Also a gelling salt and firming agent.
White crystalline powder, highly water-soluble, salty with a bitter after-note.
Permitted in the EU, the US (GRAS), and globally.
Sources
- EFSA FAF Panel — Re-evaluation of hydrochloric acid (E 507), potassium chloride (E 508), calcium chloride (E 509) and magnesium chloride (E 511) as food additives (2019), EFSA Journal 17(7):5751, doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2019.5751 — European Food Safety Authority, 2019. No safety concern for E 508 as a food additive
- WHO JECFA database — Potassium chloride (INS 508) — World Health Organization / JECFA, 1979. No numerical ADI (ADI 'not limited')
- 21 CFR 184.1622 — Potassium chloride (GRAS affirmation) — U.S. eCFR / FDA, 1983. US GRAS status, no limit other than GMP
Checked against these sources on .
Educational information only. Not medical, dietary or veterinary advice. Spotted an error? Tell us.