What is E332?
Potassium salt of citric acid used mainly to control acidity and support food formulation. Goodnessly rates E332 Safe, while food-category permissions and regulator conditions still apply.
Potassium salt of citric acid used mainly to control acidity and support food formulation. Check the food category, amount and full formulation rather than judging one ingredient in isolation.
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Read the FAQ →
What is Potassium citrate?
Potassium salt of citric acid used mainly to control acidity and support food formulation. Its function depends on the formulation and the conditions attached to the permitted use.
What's it used for?
- Helping control acidity in a formulation
- Supporting stability or texture where permitted
- Acting as a sequestrant in specified food uses
- Providing a source of potassium when the product rules allow it
Where you'll find E332 on the shelf
You may see E332 in packaged foods where its technical function is useful and the food category permits it.
Is E332 permitted? What the regulators say
Potassium 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.
| Region | Status | What this means |
|---|---|---|
| AU/NZ Australia & New Zealand (FSANZ) | Permitted with conditions | FSANZ Schedule 15 lists potassium citrate for specified food categories and conditions; the category and maximum level still matter. [FSANZ source] |
| EU European Union (EUR-Lex) | Authorised with conditions | The consolidated Union list includes E332 for specified categories and conditions of use. [EUR-Lex source] |
| US United States (FDA) | Permitted with conditions | FDA 21 CFR §184.1625 affirms potassium citrate for food use with no limitation other than current good manufacturing practice. [FDA source] |
Goodnessly rates E332 Safe within its rating system. The rating does not remove the need to consider the product category, amount or full formulation.
- JECFA’s citrate assessment uses a not-limited/not-specified ADI rather than a numerical daily value.
- EFSA’s 2026 call requested analytical and use-level data for potassium citrates; that data request is not itself a completed re-evaluation.
- 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 E332 Safe as a practical prompt to understand the ingredient, the product and the overall formulation.
How to spot it on a label
Look for:
- Potassium citrate
- 332
- E332
- Additive class (332)
Ingredient labels may use the name, the number, or the additive class followed by the number.
Related additives
Frequently asked questions
What is E332?
E332 is Potassium citrate, potassium salt of citric acid used mainly to control acidity and support food formulation.
Is E332 permitted?
E332 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 potassium 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 E332?
Goodnessly rates E332 (Potassium citrate) as Safe within its rating system.
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