E316 / Antioxidants & acidity regulators
Sodium erythorbate
Safety in brief
Safe in moderation
Recorded EatMatrix rating, not a new clinical review. The amount, your sensitivities and country rules still matter.
- Watch for
- No allergen or sensitivity is recorded for this ingredient here. Check the whole product label; this is not an allergen-free guarantee.
- Selected research
- Higher estimated intake of additive-origin sodium erythorbate was associated with more new type 2 diabetes diagnoses. This substance is named in the abstract's list of associations retained after adjustment for multiple tests. An association does not prove that it caused diabetes. Study details and limits.
- Our advice
- Keep sodium erythorbate distinct from erythorbic acid and from vitamin C. A group-level finding cannot identify the effects of each chemical form.
What it is
Sodium erythorbate is the sodium salt of erythorbic acid, used as an antioxidant in cured and processed meats, and in some beverages, to prevent oxidation and help stabilize color. It is chemically related to vitamin C but has little to no vitamin C activity in the body. It is widely regarded as safe for food use at approved levels.
Also appears on labels as: Sodium erythorbate, Erythorbic acid sodium salt, Isoascorbic acid sodium salt, Erythorbate sodium, Sodium isoascorbate, C6H7NaO6, E316, E 316, E-316, INS 316, Sodium erythorbate food grade, Food additive E316.
Dietary information
- Vegan
- Yes
- Halal
- Yes
- Gluten-free
- Yes
- Allergens
- None recorded
Recorded ingredient information. Check the product label or certification: sources, other ingredients and cross-contact can vary.
Research & body effects
Newer sources to read for E316
- 2026 BMJ study of food additive preservatives and cancer incidence
Published January 7, 2026. A prospective observational study in the French NutriNet-Santé cohort; it includes this ingredient. Observational associations cannot by themselves establish that an additive causes a health outcome.
- BfR assessment of limitations in that study
Published March 17, 2026. The German risk-assessment institute discusses uncertainty in the findings. This assessment is separate from a country's rules on permitted food uses.
Bibliographic identity and the indexed study type checked October 4, 2026. The BMJ abstract and BfR communication were read; a complete review of the study's methods, supplements and the wider evidence remains pending. These links do not change EatMatrix's recorded rating.
What selected 2026 human research means for E316
Type 2 diabetes: what was found
Higher estimated intake of additive-origin sodium erythorbate was associated with more new type 2 diabetes diagnoses. This substance is named in the abstract's list of associations retained after adjustment for multiple tests. An association does not prove that it caused diabetes.
The French NutriNet-Santé analysis included 108,723 people and 1,131 new diagnoses, with a median follow-up of 8.05 years. Diets were recorded repeatedly, including food brands. Researchers estimated additive intake and adjusted for factors such as diet, body size and smoking. They did not randomly assign people to eat this additive.
Blood pressure and cardiovascular outcomes
A May 2026 analysis associated sodium erythorbate with new hypertension after multiple-test adjustment. This does not mean that every cardiovascular outcome was associated with this additive.
This analysis included 112,395 people overall, with 5,544 new hypertension cases and 2,450 cardiovascular events in the respective analyses. It comes from the same NutriNet-Santé cohort as the diabetes and cancer publications; these are different outcomes, not three independent replications.
EatMatrix’s reading
Keep sodium erythorbate distinct from erythorbic acid and from vitamin C. A group-level finding cannot identify the effects of each chemical form.
These findings deserve follow-up. Estimated intake, other features of the foods people ate and differences between volunteers can still influence the results. Most participants were women; the results may not transfer directly to children or every country. A proposed mechanism from cells or animals is not a demonstrated mechanism in people eating ordinary food.
A useful next step when choosing food
Compare the whole food: its ingredients, fibre, salt, free sugars, saturated fat and how often you eat it. Choose a varied pattern with more minimally processed foods where practical. Removing one E number alone has not been shown by these studies to prevent diabetes or heart disease.
Selected abstract, main-text methods/results and funding checked . Funders include European and French public research bodies; the authors declare no competing interests. Supplementary tables could not be inspected here, so individual corrected estimates are not reproduced. Indexed records showed no linked correction or retraction in this check; that is not proof none exists. This is a selected editorial review, not a complete clinical or current-country-use assessment. It does not change EatMatrix’s recorded rating or country permissions.
Selected research on E316
How to read study types- Observational studyPreservatives, hypertension and cardiovascular disease in the French cohort
Higher sodium erythorbate intake was linked to new hypertension after multiple-test adjustment. This is the same French cohort as the cancer and diabetes papers, not independent replication or proof of causation.
- Expert critiqueGerman risk institute (BfR) on the BMJ preservatives study
Points to chance findings from many tests, diet effects hard to separate (sulfites track wine, for example) and self-reported intake. Sees no reason to change EFSA’s assessments.
- Observational studyBMJ study of preservatives and cancer in 105,260 French adults
Linked higher intake of sodium erythorbate with overall and breast cancer. It observed diets and cannot show the additive caused the cancers. 11 of the 17 preservatives studied showed no link.
- Observational studyPreservatives and type 2 diabetes in 108,723 French participants
Higher additive-origin sodium erythorbate intake was linked to new type 2 diabetes in a French cohort. It is one of 12 associations retained after multiple-test adjustment. Diet was observed, not assigned; this does not show causation.
- Regulator reviewEFSA re-evaluation of erythorbic acid and sodium erythorbate
Kept the safe daily limit of 6 mg per kg of body weight. No age group exceeds it, so no safety concern.
Earlier source summaries checked ; latest additions checked . See the detailed research section for what was read and the remaining limits. This is a selection of sources, not a complete literature review. Authority assessments apply to the uses and places they cover.
Health notes from our ingredient record
- Generally recognized as safe at typical food-additive levels.
- Adds a small amount of dietary sodium, a minor consideration for sodium-restricted diets.
Other references from our ingredient record
These links come from the original ingredient record. They are separate from the source reviews above and have not all been checked for the exact ingredient, amount consumed or claim. Dates are shown newest first.
- Scientific Opinion on the re‐evaluation of erythorbic acid (E 315) and sodium erythorbate (E 316) as food additives — EFSA Panel on Food Additives, EFSA Journal (2016). Official EFSA scientific opinion (bibliographic reference, imported 2026-10-13). It covers the additive as a group assessment and is not an individual human study; read the opinion for its findings.
Country rules
Country checks for E316
Permission depends on the market, type of food, amount and conditions. A scientific opinion or an E-number alone does not establish a legal use. These checks are separate from the stored EatMatrix rating.
Compare all eight markets and their sources
| Market | What is checked |
|---|---|
| European Union | Regulation (EC) 1333/2008, Annex II Part B, version , contains the exact code E316: Sodium erythorbate. Listing alone does not allow every food use. Part E food categories, limits, specifications and applicable later acts still need a product-specific check. Source read: . |
| Great Britain | The FSA register record for E316 (Sodium erythorbate) lists “Authorised” in England, Scotland and Wales. Register updated: 01 April 2025; record checked: . Food-specific conditions and specifications still need a separate legal check. |
| United States | Complete current-use review pending. Any scoped provision in the label guide above applies only to the stated use. FDA explains the applicable food-additive and GRAS framework. |
| Northern Ireland | Review pending. Check the applicable EU rules and territory arrangements; the GB register alone does not establish this status. FSA guidance is a starting source, not a verified permission for this entry. |
| Canada | Named food-use records located. Health Canada lists the preparations below for specified foods and purposes. This is conditional permission for those uses, not approval of every product or a personal safety verdict. Only the named records and conditions below were located. Exact composition and specifications still need matching. Source tables captured . List publication dates are shown separately. Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) is a condition of use, not an unlimited amount or a recommended intake. Food and Drug Regulations B.16.003 requires the listed source, purpose, amount and other conditions to match. The official consolidation read was current to 21 September 2026; product specifications and applicable later changes still need checking. Read 5 listed food-use conditionsSodium ErythorbateHealth Canada: List of Permitted Preservatives. List published ; item S.7.
EatMatrix reading: match the exact preparation and food first. A manufacturing limit is not an acceptable daily intake (ADI). A label without the amount cannot establish exposure, and an unlisted name here does not establish a ban. |
| Australia | Review pending. Food Standards Code permissions and conditions need an additive-specific check. FSANZ food-additive rules is a starting source, not a verified permission for this entry. |
| New Zealand | Review pending. Food Standards Code permissions and conditions need an additive-specific check. FSANZ food-additive rules is a starting source, not a verified permission for this entry. |
| Japan | Review pending. The relevant list, identity and use standards need an additive-specific check. CAA food-additive lists is a starting source, not a verified permission for this entry. |
Sources & review status
Check what each source covers: an authority’s conclusion, a research finding and a country’s legal permission answer different questions.
What this guide covers
- Selected research
- 5 source summaries, with publication dates and study types. Several publications may describe the same study population.
- Official assessment sources
- Commission-listed EFSA references for E316. Bibliographic identity checked; latest findings and current use rules need separate review.
- Original ingredient record
- 1 research link; newest recorded date: . Sources added separately to this guide are not included in this count.
This guide brings together our ingredient record and the dated sources shown here. Missing information describes a gap in this guide; it does not mean an ingredient is untested, safe or harmful. This is not a complete review of every study, preparation or current country rule. The amount in a product and how it is used still matter.
How to read the ratings, research and country checksAgency labels recorded by EatMatrix
These are imported database classifications, not verified current statements from each authority. Use the dated official sources below for their actual scope and conclusions.
| Authority | Database label |
|---|---|
| FDA | Safe in moderation |
| WHO | Safe in moderation |
| EFSA | Safe in moderation |
| FSANZ | Safe in moderation |
| Japan | Safe in moderation |
| UK FSA | Safe in moderation |
| Health Canada | Safe in moderation |
Official assessment sources for E316
The European Commission’s re-evaluation table lists official EFSA documents for this additive. Their identifiers and subjects were checked against publisher bibliographic records. A missing research link in the EatMatrix database does not mean the additive has never been assessed.
Name in the Commission table: Sodium erythorbate.
- Scientific Opinion on the re‐evaluation of erythorbic acid (E 315) and sodium erythorbate (E 316) as food additives
EFSA scientific opinion. Published: .
These are assessment references, including historical or group assessments. They do not establish the latest scientific conclusion, a human health benefit or risk, or current permission to use the additive in a particular food. Later assessments, corrections and food-use conditions need separate review. The recorded EatMatrix rating above is unchanged.
European Commission re-evaluation table, status as of . EatMatrix checked this bibliography on .
Database updated: . What does an E number mean on a food label?
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
What is EatMatrix's recorded rating for E316?
The recorded EatMatrix rating for E316 (Sodium erythorbate) is “Safe in moderation”. It is calculated from labels stored in our ingredient database. These labels are not verified current regulator decisions or country permissions. A database update date is not a scientific review date.
Is E316 vegan, halal or gluten-free?
According to our ingredient data for Sodium erythorbate — vegan: yes, vegetarian: yes, halal: yes, kosher: yes, gluten-free: yes, dairy-free: yes. Manufacturing sources can vary between products; check the label if it matters to you.
What is E316 and why is it used?
Sodium erythorbate is the sodium salt of erythorbic acid, used as an antioxidant in cured and processed meats, and in some beverages, to prevent oxidation and help stabilize color. It is chemically related to vitamin C but has little to no vitamin C activity in the body. It is widely regarded as safe for food use at approved levels.
Does E316 contain allergens?
No known allergens are recorded for Sodium erythorbate.
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This page shows information and classifications recorded in our ingredient database. Current scientific and market-specific verification remains pending as described above. It is general information, not medical advice.