E331i

What is E331i?

A sodium citrate form used to help control acidity and support food formulation where the category permits it. Goodnessly rates E331i Safe, while food-category permissions and regulator conditions still apply.

Quick answer

A sodium citrate form used to help control acidity and support food formulation where the category permits it. Check the food category, amount and full formulation rather than judging one ingredient in isolation.

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Read the FAQ →

What is Sodium dihydrogen citrate?

A sodium citrate form used to help control acidity and support food formulation where the category permits it. Its function depends on the formulation and the conditions attached to the permitted use.

What's it used for?

  • Helping control acidity
  • Supporting buffering in a formulation
  • Contributing to stability or texture where authorised
  • Serving the stated technical function at the permitted level

Where you'll find E331i on the shelf

You may see E331i in packaged foods where its technical function is useful and the food category permits it.

Food additive
Specified use
Food formulation
Label check
E331i

Is E331i permitted? What the regulators say

Sodium dihydrogen citrate is listed in the checked AU/NZ and EU frameworks with conditions, and the US source gives a specified food-use pathway. Permission is conditional: category, level, identity and specifications matter.

RegionStatusWhat this means
AU/NZ Australia & New Zealand (FSANZ)Permitted with conditionsFSANZ’s additive-number list identifies sodium dihydrogen citrate under the 331 citrate entry; Schedule 15 controls the permitted food categories and levels. [FSANZ source]
EU European Union (EUR-Lex)Authorised with conditionsThe consolidated Union list includes E331 citrate forms for specified categories and conditions of use. [EUR-Lex source]
US United States (FDA)Permitted with conditionsFDA 21 CFR §184.1751 covers sodium citrate as a direct food substance affirmed as generally recognised as safe when used according to good manufacturing practice. [FDA source]

Goodnessly rates E331i Safe within its rating system. The rating does not remove the need to consider the product category, amount or full formulation.

📰Recent developmentsRegulator assessment checked 25 Sep 2026
  • JECFA’s citrate assessment uses a not-limited/not-specified ADI rather than a numerical daily value.
  • EFSA’s 2026 call requested data for sodium citrates as part of the citrate-group work; a data call is not a final safety opinion.
  • The current EU Union list and the cited FDA provision were checked for identity and conditions.

This section is checked periodically rather than continuously — confirm the current primary source before relying on a regulatory detail.

Who might want to limit or avoid it

  • People comparing additive functions across products
  • People checking the frequency of this ingredient in their usual foods
  • People who want to consider the whole formulation and serving pattern

Goodnessly rates E331i Safe as a practical prompt to understand the ingredient, the product and the overall formulation.

How to spot it on a label

Look for:

  • Sodium dihydrogen citrate
  • 331i
  • E331i
  • Additive class (331i)

Ingredient labels may use the name, the number, or the additive class followed by the number.

Frequently asked questions

What is E331i?

E331i is Sodium dihydrogen citrate, a sodium citrate form used to help control acidity and support food formulation where the category permits it.

Is E331i permitted?

E331i is listed with conditions in Australia/New Zealand and the EU, and the FDA source gives a specified US food-use pathway.

What should I know about sodium dihydrogen citrate?

Use depends on the food category, amount, identity and the applicable regulator conditions; a listing is not a blanket permission for every food.

How does Goodnessly rate E331i?

Goodnessly rates E331i (Sodium dihydrogen citrate) as Safe within its rating system.

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