Food additive databaseantioxidantChecked 2026-10-02

Sodium Erythorbate (Sodium Isoascorbate) エリソルビン酸ナトリウム（別名イソアスコルビン酸ナトリウム）

Designated additivePermitted in the EU (E316)EFSA ADI 6mg per kg body weight per day

Purpose: antioxidant
On the label: “酸化防止剤（エリソルビン酸Na）” (antioxidant (sodium erythorbate)), “酸化防止剤（イソアスコルビン酸Na）” (antioxidant (sodium isoascorbate))
Name in the List of Designated Additives: エリソルビン酸ナトリウム（別名イソアスコルビン酸ナトリウム） (No. 83)

In Japan

The sodium salt of erythorbic acid (isoascorbic acid), used to prevent oxidation. There is no upper limit on the amount, but under the standards for use it may not be used for nutritional purposes in fish paste products and bread, nor for any purpose other than preventing oxidation in other foods.
Because it is an antioxidant, the purpose name is written alongside, as in “酸化防止剤（エリソルビン酸Na）” (antioxidant (sodium erythorbate)) (CAA, Annex to the Food Labeling Standards explanatory notice).

Japan's standards for use

Fish paste products (excluding fish surimi) and bread: may not be used for nutritional purposes
Other foods: may not be used for any purpose other than preventing oxidation

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

In the EU

It is on the EU list of food additives (Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II) as E316.
In the EU, the foods in which it may be used are limited to cured and preserved meat products (up to 500 mg/kg) and preserved or semi-preserved fish products and frozen red fish (up to 1,500 mg/kg).
In its 2016 evaluation, EFSA (the European Food Safety Authority) set an ADI (acceptable daily intake) of 6mg per kg of body weight per day (EFSA ANS).

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

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