Foodscan.ai
EN
EN
LT
E 404Thickeners, Stabilisers & Emulsifiers

Calcium alginate

Characteristics

Additive NameCalcium alginate
E No.E 404
TypeIndividual Substance
In plain language

A natural thickener and gelling agent derived from brown seaweed. It forms a gel when it comes into contact with calcium, making it useful for binding and stabilising food products. Found in some meat preparations and processed cereal-based baby foods. Generally considered safe and approved by EFSA with no specific daily intake limit set. It has a very limited authorisation — used in only a handful of food categories — so most people encounter it rarely.

Conditions of Use

This additive is authorised to be used in the following 2 food categories:

8.2Meat preparations as defined by Regulation (EC) No 853/2004
Quantum satis (no max)
only preparations in which ingredients have been injected; meat preparations composed of meat parts that have been handled differently: minced, sliced or processed and that are combined together. Except bifteki, soutzoukaki, kebap gyros and souvlaki
13.1.3Processed cereal-based foods and baby foods as defined by Regulation (EU) No 609/2013
Maximum Level = 500 mg/kg
only desserts and puddings
Footnote 23: E 400, E 401, E 402 and E 404 are authorised individually or in combination

Source

Want to know if a product you eat contains E 404? Open FoodScan in Telegram, photograph any food product label and get your analysis.

Open in Telegram
E 404 - Calcium alginate | E-Number Information