Foods Containing E501 (Potassium Carbonates)
E501 (Potassium Carbonates) is mineral salts produced industrially, used as a raising agent to help make doughs and batters rise by releasing gas. Here's where you're most likely to find it on food labels.
Common foods that contain E501
E501 is used across cakes, biscuits, self-raising flour, bread and baking mixes. The foods where it appears most often include:
- Cakes
- Biscuits
- Self-raising flour
- Bread and baking mixes
Exact usage varies by brand and recipe — the only way to know for certain whether a specific product contains E501 is to check its ingredients list, where it must be declared by law, either as "E501" or as "Potassium Carbonates".
How to spot E501 on a label
In the UK and EU, additives must appear in the ingredients list with their function and either their E-number or full name — for example "raising agents: E501" or "raising agents: potassium carbonates". In the US the E-number system isn't used, so look for the full name "Potassium Carbonates" instead.
Should you avoid foods containing E501?
E501 is considered safe. It is authorised across the EU, UK and US, and safety evaluations by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) have not identified health concerns at the levels used in food. For most people there is no reason to avoid E501.
Full guide to E501: safety, vegan and halal status →
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Additive data sourced from Open Food Facts (ODbL licence) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).