What is E316?
Sodium erythorbate (E316) is an antioxidant used in specified foods, especially some cured and preserved meat products. Goodnessly rates it Caution as a prompt to notice the food category and use level.
E316 is the sodium salt of erythorbic acid. It is used as an antioxidant in specified foods, with category-specific permissions and levels.
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What is Sodium erythorbate?
Sodium erythorbate is a stereoisomer-related antioxidant ingredient used to support colour and oxidative stability in permitted food applications.
What's it used for?
- Supporting oxidative stability
- Supporting colour stability in selected cured foods
- Helping manage processing quality in specified products
Where you'll find E316 on the shelf
It is most relevant to cured and preserved meat products and other foods with a permitted antioxidant function.
Is E316 permitted? What the regulators say
Sodium erythorbate is permitted in the three systems checked, but the category and maximum use level are important.
| Region | Status | What this means |
|---|---|---|
| AU/NZ Australia & New Zealand (FSANZ) | Permitted with conditions | FSANZ lists sodium erythorbate as additive 316; Schedule 15 food-category conditions and levels apply. |
| EU European Union (EFSA) | Authorised with conditions | The EU Union list includes E316 sodium erythorbate for specified categories, including a 500 mg/kg limit in certain non-heat-treated meat products. |
| US United States (FDA) | Permitted for specified meat uses | USDA 9 CFR 424.21 permits sodium erythorbate among ingredients for cured meat and poultry products under the stated conditions and rates. |
Goodnessly rates E316 Caution to encourage awareness of antioxidant use and the wider formulation. This does not say authorised use is harmful.
Eco score: Coming Soon.
- FSANZ Food Standards Code, Schedule 15, additive 316.
- EUR-Lex Regulation (EU) 2015/647 and the Union list conditions for E316.
- USDA 9 CFR 424.21 covers sodium erythorbate use in cured meat and poultry.
This section is checked periodically rather than continuously — if you're reading this well after the date above, it's worth confirming nothing has changed before citing it.
Who might want to limit or avoid it
- People comparing cured and preserved foods
- People who prefer to understand antioxidant systems
- People checking sodium in the wider diet
Goodnessly rates E316 Caution as a practical prompt to understand the ingredient, the product and the overall formulation.
How to spot it on a label
Look for:
- Sodium erythorbate
- 316 or E316
- Antioxidant (316)
- Sodium salt of erythorbic acid
Look for sodium erythorbate, E316/316 or the functional class antioxidant followed by the number.
Related additives
Frequently asked questions
What is E316?
E316 is sodium erythorbate, an antioxidant used in specified food applications.
Is E316 permitted?
E316 is permitted with conditions in Australia/New Zealand, the EU and the US for specified food uses. The category and level still matter.
Why is sodium erythorbate rated Caution?
Goodnessly uses Caution as a label-reading prompt to notice antioxidant use, sodium and the wider formulation.
How does Goodnessly rate E316?
Goodnessly rates E316 (sodium erythorbate) as Caution.
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