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E332 / Antioxidants & acidity regulators

Monopotassium citrate, tripotassium citrate

Selected sources checked · Scope & sources

Safety in brief

Safe

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

Monopotassium citrate and tripotassium citrate are potassium salts of citric acid used as acidity regulators and preservatives in foods and beverages, including sports drinks and electrolyte products. In clinical settings, potassium citrate is used to help manage urinary pH and reduce the risk of certain kidney stones. As food additives they are considered safe for the general population at typical intake levels.

Also appears on labels as: Monopotassium citrate, Tripotassium citrate, Potassium citrate, Potassium salts of citric acid, Citric acid, monopotassium salt, Citric acid, tripotassium salt, KH2C6H5O7, K3C6H5O7, E332, E 332, E-332, E332(i).

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

Health notes from our ingredient record

  • Generally recognized as safe at typical food-additive levels.
  • Contributes dietary potassium; people with impaired kidney function or on potassium-restricted diets should monitor intake.

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.

  1. GreenScreen Assessment of Potassium Citrate Safety Profile — ToxServices LLC, GreenScreen Chemical Assessment (2024). A detailed chemical safety assessment of potassium citrate (E332) completed in March 2024 using the GreenScreen methodology. The study evaluated environmental and human health impacts, concluding that potassium citrate demonstrates a favorable safety profile. As a potassium salt of citric acid, it serves effectively as a sequestrant and stabilizer in food products. The assessment found no significant toxicological concerns and noted its natural occurrence in various plant sources. The compound is readily biodegradable and poses minimal environmental risk.[safe]
Country rules

Country checks for E332

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
MarketWhat is checked
European Union

Regulation (EC) 1333/2008, Annex II Part B, version , contains the exact code E332: Potassium 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 E332 (Potassium 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 potassium citrate; this does not establish separate permission for both mono- and tripotassium citrate.

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 7 listed food-use conditions

Potassium Citrate

Health Canada: List of Permitted Emulsifying, Gelling, Stabilizing or Thickening Agents. List published ; item P.11.

  • Food: (a) Cream cheese spread; Cream cheese spread with (naming the added ingredients); Processed (naming the variety) cheese; Processed cheese food; Processed cheese food with (naming the added ingredients); Processed cheese spread; Processed cheese spread with (naming the added ingredients); Processed (naming the variety) cheese with (naming the added ingredients)

    Purpose: (a) Emulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agent

    Limit and conditions: (a) If used singly, the amount not to exceed 4.0%. If used in any combination with other citrate salts, phosphate salts, sodium gluconate or tartrate salts, the total combined amount not to exceed 4.0%, calculated as anhydrous salts, provided that the total amount of phosphate salts does not exceed 3.5%, calculated as anhydrous salts.

    Source modification reference: NOM/ADM-0048 (see the official list).

  • Food: (b) (Naming the flavour) flavour

    Purpose: (b) Emulsifying agent

    Limit and conditions: (b) Good Manufacturing Practice

    Source modification reference: M-FAA-24-14 (see the official list).

Potassium Citrate

Health Canada: List of Permitted Acidity Regulators and Acid-Reacting Materials. List published ; item P.7.

  • Food: (a) Calorie-reduced margarine; Margarine

    Purpose: (a) Acidity regulator

    Limit and conditions: (a) Good Manufacturing Practice

  • Food: (b) Fruit wine; Wine

    Purpose: (b) Acidity regulator

    Limit and conditions: (b) Good Manufacturing Practice

  • Food: (c) Human milk fortifier

    Purpose: (c) Acidity regulator

    Limit and conditions: (c) Good Manufacturing Practice

    Source modification reference: NOM/ADM-0164 (see the official list).

  • Food: (d) Infant formula

    Purpose: (d) Acidity regulator

    Limit and conditions: (d) Good Manufacturing Practice

  • Food: (e) Unstandardized foods

    Purpose: (e) Acidity regulator

    Limit and conditions: (e) Good Manufacturing Practice

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

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 checks
Agency 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.

AuthorityDatabase label
FDASafe
WHOSafe
EFSASafe
FSANZSafe
JapanSafe
UK FSASafe
Health CanadaSafe

Database updated: . What does an E number mean on a food label?

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

What is EatMatrix's recorded rating for E332?

The recorded EatMatrix rating for E332 (Monopotassium citrate, tripotassium citrate) is “Safe”. 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 E332 vegan, halal or gluten-free?

According to our ingredient data for Monopotassium citrate, tripotassium citrate — 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 E332 and why is it used?

Monopotassium citrate and tripotassium citrate are potassium salts of citric acid used as acidity regulators and preservatives in foods and beverages, including sports drinks and electrolyte products. In clinical settings, potassium citrate is used to help manage urinary pH and reduce the risk of certain kidney stones. As food additives they are considered safe for the general population at typical intake levels.

Does E332 contain allergens?

No known allergens are recorded for Monopotassium citrate, tripotassium citrate.

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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.