E331 / Antioxidants & acidity regulators
Sodium citrates (monosodium, disodium, trisodium)
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.
- Our advice
- Read the whole food label and consider how often you eat the product. A name or E number does not tell you the amount, and an ingredient rating cannot assess the entire food.
What it is
Sodium citrates are the sodium salts of citric acid: E331(i) monosodium, E331(ii) disodium, and E331(iii) trisodium citrate. They function as acidity regulators/buffers, sequestrants, and emulsifying salts (e.g., processed cheese), and help control tartness in beverages. Widely permitted in foods with category-specific limits.
Also appears on labels as: Sodium citrate, Monosodium citrate, Disodium citrate, Trisodium citrate, Sodium salts of citric acid, Citric acid sodium salt, Citric acid, sodium salts, Na3C6H5O7, Na2HC6H5O7, NaH2C6H5O7, E331, E 331.
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
What selected human studies mean for E331
Diabetes: a long-term association
A 2024 analysis followed 104,139 French adults, with 1,056 new type 2 diabetes diagnoses over an average 6.8 years. Higher estimated additive-origin sodium citrate intake was associated with more diagnoses. This observational study cannot show that the additive caused diabetes. It uses the same NutriNet-Santé cohort as other preservative studies, not an independent population.
The reported category does not resolve every mono-, di- or trisodium citrate preparation.
EatMatrix’s reading and a practical choice
A study can raise a useful question without settling whether an additive causes illness. We keep the tested form, comparison, measured outcome and unanswered questions together. Compare the whole food, including fibre, salt, free sugars and how often you eat it. An E number alone does not tell you the amount you consumed.
If you have inflammatory bowel disease or persistent symptoms, discuss food changes with your care team; a restrictive diet based on these summaries is not a proven personal treatment. WHO healthy-diet guidance
Selected sources checked 9 October 2026. Cohort and five-preparation trial: abstracts read; full methods, supplements and complete funding/conflict appraisal remain pending. CMC, insulin-sensitivity, colitis and whole-diet trials: selected main-text methods/results/limitations and declarations read, not all supplements. Some CMC, insulin and whole-diet trial authors disclose industry relationships; the colitis pilot reports foundation funding and no potential conflicts. Indexed comments were identified, but their complete texts were not all accessible; absence of an indexed correction is not proof none exists. This is not an exhaustive clinical or current-country-use review. Recorded ratings and country permissions are unchanged.
Selected research on E331
How to read study types- Observational studyEmulsifiers and type 2 diabetes: NutriNet-Santé cohort
A French cohort associated this named exposure with more new diabetes diagnoses. Same French cohort, not independent replication or proof of causation. The reported category does not resolve every mono-, di- or trisodium citrate preparation.
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
- Adds dietary sodium; consider in sodium-restricted diets.
- Large doses may cause mild GI upset (osmotic/laxative effect).
- Alkalinises urine; use caution with certain kidney conditions unless medically indicated.
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.
- Safety Assessment of Sodium Citrate in Food Applications — Joanna Sikorska, Foodcom Technical Review (2024). A comprehensive safety evaluation of sodium citrate (E331) as a food additive conducted in 2024. The study reviewed toxicological data and concluded that sodium citrate poses no significant health risks when used according to approved food additive regulations. The research noted that sodium citrate is effective as an emulsifier, stabilizer, and pH regulator in processed foods. The assessment found no evidence of carcinogenicity, genotoxicity, or reproductive toxicity. The acceptable daily intake remains unlimited due to its excellent safety profile.[safe]
Country rules
Country checks for E331
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 E331: Sodium citrates. 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 E331 (Sodium citrates) 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. The source names sodium citrate; this does not establish separate permission for every sodium-citrate subform in the local group. 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 19 listed food-use conditionsSodium CitrateHealth Canada: List of Permitted Emulsifying, Gelling, Stabilizing or Thickening Agents. List published ; item S.5.
Sodium CitrateHealth Canada: List of Permitted Food Additives with Other Purposes of Use. List published ; item S.10.
Sodium CitrateHealth Canada: List of Permitted Acidity Regulators and Acid-Reacting Materials. List published ; item S.9.
Sodium CitrateHealth Canada: List of Permitted Sequestering Agents. List published ; item S.2.
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
- 1 source summaries, with publication dates and study types. Several publications may describe the same study population.
- 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 |
Database updated: . What does an E number mean on a food label?
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
What is EatMatrix's recorded rating for E331?
The recorded EatMatrix rating for E331 (Sodium citrates (monosodium, disodium, trisodium)) 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 E331 vegan, halal or gluten-free?
According to our ingredient data for Sodium citrates (monosodium, disodium, trisodium) — 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 E331 and why is it used?
Sodium citrates are the sodium salts of citric acid: E331(i) monosodium, E331(ii) disodium, and E331(iii) trisodium citrate. They function as acidity regulators/buffers, sequestrants, and emulsifying salts (e.g., processed cheese), and help control tartness in beverages. Widely permitted in foods with category-specific limits.
Does E331 contain allergens?
No known allergens are recorded for Sodium citrates (monosodium, disodium, trisodium).
Read the whole label.
Scan a food label with EatMatrix on iPhone to look up its ingredients in the app.
Ingredient research, by email
Join the list for food additive research updates. Unsubscribe any time.
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.