E385 / Antioxidants & acidity regulators
Calcium disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate (Calcium disodium EDTA)
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
Calcium disodium EDTA is a chelating agent used in food in small amounts to bind trace metals that would otherwise promote rancidity, discoloration, or flavor loss. It is found in some canned foods, dressings, and sauces. Separately, a related medical-grade form is used to treat heavy-metal poisoning, but that is a distinct pharmaceutical use governed by different dosing and regulation than the food additive.
Also appears on labels as: Calcium disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate, Calcium disodium EDTA, Calcium EDTA, CaNa2EDTA, CaNa₂EDTA, Calcium disodium salt of EDTA, Disodium calcium EDTA, EDTA calcium disodium, E385, E 385, E-385, INS 385.
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
- Can bind and reduce absorption of essential minerals like iron, zinc, and calcium if consumed in large amounts.
- EFSA has set an acceptable daily intake; typical food-additive use is well below levels associated with adverse effects.
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.
- Calcium Disodium EDTA Safety Assessment: Chelating Agent in Food Applications — US FDA Food Safety Team, Code of Federal Regulations - Food and Drugs (2024). A comprehensive safety evaluation of calcium disodium EDTA (E385) as a food additive, examining its role as a chelating agent that binds metal ions to prevent oxidation and discoloration. The study confirmed that calcium disodium EDTA is safe when used according to FDA regulations, with a minimum 99% purity requirement. The research found no significant adverse effects at approved usage levels in designated foods. The compound effectively stabilizes products by preventing metal-catalyzed oxidation, with established safety margins for human consumption.[safe]
Country rules
Country checks for E385
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 E385: Calcium disodium ethylene diamine tetra-acetate (Calcium disodium EDTA). 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 E385 (Calcium disodium ethylene diamine tetra-acetate (Calcium disodium EDTA)) 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 12 listed food-use conditionsCalcium Disodium Ethylenediaminetetraacetate (Calcium Disodium EDTA)Health Canada: List of Permitted Sequestering Agents. List published ; item C.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
- 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 E385?
The recorded EatMatrix rating for E385 (Calcium disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate (Calcium disodium EDTA)) 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 E385 vegan, halal or gluten-free?
According to our ingredient data for Calcium disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate (Calcium disodium EDTA) — 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 E385 and why is it used?
Calcium disodium EDTA is a chelating agent used in food in small amounts to bind trace metals that would otherwise promote rancidity, discoloration, or flavor loss. It is found in some canned foods, dressings, and sauces. Separately, a related medical-grade form is used to treat heavy-metal poisoning, but that is a distinct pharmaceutical use governed by different dosing and regulation than the food additive.
Does E385 contain allergens?
No known allergens are recorded for Calcium disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate (Calcium disodium EDTA).
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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.