E363 / Antioxidants & acidity regulators
Succinic acid
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
Succinic acid is a dicarboxylic acid naturally present in plants, animals, and microorganisms, and is used in food as an acidity regulator and flavoring agent. It occurs naturally in the body's own metabolism as part of the citric acid (Krebs) cycle. Outside food, it is also used industrially as a building block for various chemicals and bio-based plastics, but the food-grade form is evaluated separately for dietary safety.
Also appears on labels as: Succinic Acid, E363, E-363, E 363, INS 363, Butanedioic Acid, 1,4-Butanedioic Acid, Ethane-1,2-dicarboxylic acid, Spirit of Amber, Amber Acid, Acidum Succinicum, Food Acid E363.
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 levels; no significant documented risks from dietary exposure.
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.
- Succinic Acid Production and Safety: Latest Perspectives on Food Applications — Biotechnology and Food Safety Research Institute, Biotechnology and Applied Chemistry Journal (2024). A comprehensive 2024 review of succinic acid (E363) covering its production methods, applications, and safety profile. The study highlighted succinic acid as an eco-friendly food additive that can be produced through biotechnological processes from renewable resources. The research confirmed excellent safety characteristics with no adverse effects identified in toxicological studies. Succinic acid's natural occurrence in various foods and its role in cellular metabolism support its safety for food use as an acidulant and flavoring agent.[safe]
Country rules
Country checks for E363
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 E363: Succinic acid. 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 E363 (Succinic acid) 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 | Selected US conditions for Succinic acid Official federal text current through ; read . Food uses, limits and exceptionsNamed preparation and use conditions For the specified flavour-enhancing and pH-control uses, the section describes maximum levels as served of 0.084% in condiments/relishes and 0.0061% in meat products under good manufacturing practice. These are food-category conditions, not personal intake targets. EatMatrix’s reading: a legal use condition answers where and how an ingredient may be used. It is not a test of your product, a personal safe intake or a claim that the ingredient benefits your body. Match the named substance, food and amount. Other federal provisions, food standards, state rules and later changes may also apply; this is a selected source review, not a complete product-compliance decision. |
| 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 | No exact named entry located in the reviewed additive lists No exact named food-additive entry was located in the 15 current lists for Succinic Acid. Succinic anhydride is a starch-modifying reagent, not the same direct additive. EatMatrix reading: Do not claim a permitted additive use from this review. Exact preparation, intended use and any applicable separate legal provision need confirmation; this table result is not a toxicology verdict or proof of a universal ban. Name and category review: . This describes the legal source check, not a finding that the ingredient is safe, unsafe or untested. Sources and names checkedNames checked: Succinic acid; Succinic Acid. All 15 Health Canada permitted-additive lists were checked by exact name, with the reviewed alternatives above. E-numbers alone are not Canadian ingredient names. The Justice Canada consolidation read was current to 21 September 2026. A complete product decision also requires its composition, specifications, intended food and use, quantities, applicable separate provisions and any later changes. |
| 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 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 |
| WHO | Safe |
| EFSA | Safe |
| FSANZ | Safe |
| Japan | Safe |
| UK FSA | Safe |
| Health Canada | Safe |
Database updated: . What does an E number mean on a food label?
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
What is EatMatrix's recorded rating for E363?
The recorded EatMatrix rating for E363 (Succinic acid) 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 E363 vegan, halal or gluten-free?
According to our ingredient data for Succinic acid — 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 E363 and why is it used?
Succinic acid is a dicarboxylic acid naturally present in plants, animals, and microorganisms, and is used in food as an acidity regulator and flavoring agent. It occurs naturally in the body's own metabolism as part of the citric acid (Krebs) cycle. Outside food, it is also used industrially as a building block for various chemicals and bio-based plastics, but the food-grade form is evaluated separately for dietary safety.
Does E363 contain allergens?
No known allergens are recorded for Succinic acid.
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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.