E526 / Acidity regulators & anti-caking agents
Calcium hydroxide
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 hydroxide (E526), also known as slaked lime, is used in food processing as a firming agent and pH regulator, notably in the traditional nixtamalization process for corn tortillas and masa, and to clarify sugar and prepare pickles. It is generally recognized as safe at typical food-use levels.
Also appears on labels as: Calcium hydroxide, Ca(OH)2, Slaked lime, Hydrated lime, Food grade calcium hydroxide, Calcium hydroxide powder, Calcium hydroxide solution, Calcium dihydroxide, Calcium oxyhydroxide, E526, E 526, E-526.
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-use levels; residual amounts are alkaline but well within safe limits in finished food.
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 Hydroxide in Food Applications: Benefits and Safety Analysis — SarChem Laboratories Food Research Division, Food Chemistry and Applications Journal (2024). A detailed analysis of calcium hydroxide (E526), also known as slaked lime or pickling lime, examining its benefits and applications in food preparation. The study confirmed calcium hydroxide is safe when used according to approved guidelines as a firming agent and pH regulator. The research highlighted its historical use in food processing and confirmed its safety profile for various food applications. The assessment noted its effectiveness in food preservation and texture enhancement with established safety margins.[safe]
Country rules
Country checks for E526
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 E526: Calcium hydroxide. 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 E526 (Calcium hydroxide) 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 Calcium hydroxide Official federal text current through ; read . Food uses, limits and exceptionsNamed preparation and use conditions The specified food-grade calcium hydroxide is listed under good manufacturing practice. The industrial name “slaked lime” does not establish that a particular material meets food specifications. 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 | 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 7 listed food-use conditionsCalcium HydroxideHealth Canada: List of Permitted Acidity Regulators and Acid-Reacting Materials. List published ; item C.8.
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 E526?
The recorded EatMatrix rating for E526 (Calcium hydroxide) 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 E526 vegan, halal or gluten-free?
According to our ingredient data for Calcium hydroxide — 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 E526 and why is it used?
Calcium hydroxide (E526), also known as slaked lime, is used in food processing as a firming agent and pH regulator, notably in the traditional nixtamalization process for corn tortillas and masa, and to clarify sugar and prepare pickles. It is generally recognized as safe at typical food-use levels.
Does E526 contain allergens?
No known allergens are recorded for Calcium hydroxide.
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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.