Food additive databaseantioxidantChecked 2026-10-02

Disodium Ethylenediaminetetraacetate (Disodium EDTA) エチレンジアミン四酢酸二ナトリウム（別名EDTA二ナトリウム）

Designated additiveNot on the EU additive list

Purpose: antioxidant
On the label: “酸化防止剤（EDTA-Na）” (antioxidant (EDTA-Na)), “酸化防止剤（EDTAナトリウム）” (antioxidant (EDTA sodium))
Name in the List of Designated Additives: エチレンジアミン四酢酸二ナトリウム（別名EDTA二ナトリウム） (No. 80)

In Japan

Used to prevent oxidation in canned and bottled foods.
It may be used only in canned and bottled foods, and it must be converted to calcium disodium EDTA before the final food is completed.
Because it is an antioxidant, the purpose name is written alongside the substance name, as in “酸化防止剤（EDTA-Na）” (antioxidant (EDTA-Na)).

Japan's standards for use

Soft drinks in cans or bottles: up to 0.035 g/kg as calcium disodium EDTA
Other canned or bottled foods: up to 0.25 g/kg as calcium disodium EDTA
Must be converted to calcium disodium EDTA before the final food is completed
May not be used in any other food

This is a summary of the standards for use. See the source list for the exact conditions.

In the EU

It is not on the EU list of food additives (Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II), so it cannot be used as a food additive in the EU.
The EU list of food additives contains calcium disodium EDTA (E385); disodium EDTA is not listed.

Sources

Checked 2026-10-02. Rules and evaluations change over time. This page is a translation of our Japanese page; if they differ, the Japanese page is the reference.

This page lists facts stated in laws and in evaluations by public bodies; it is not a safety verdict. Additives used in Japan are approved by the government, which sets the foods and amounts they can be used in. The ADI is a guide to the amount that is considered safe to take every day over a lifetime.

Other substances used as antioxidant

← Back to the food additive database