Potassium erythorbate
An antioxidant not currently authorised in the EU.
- Category
- Antioxidants
- Vegan
- Yes
- Vegetarian
- Yes
What it is
E317 is the potassium salt of erythorbic acid — a mirror-image form of vitamin C, used as an antioxidant rather than as a nutrient.
How it is used in food
Stops fats oxidising and speeds up the curing reaction in meats, which is why it turns up alongside nitrite.
Commonly found in- Cured meats
- Preserved fish
- Canned fruit and vegetables
Health and safety
None known. Erythorbate is a stereoisomer of ascorbic acid — the same atoms in a different arrangement — and it is handled by the body the same way, minus most of the vitamin activity. The reason it is flagged is purely that this particular salt is not on the EU authorised list, while its close relatives E315 and E316 are.
Erythorbic acid (E315) and sodium erythorbate (E316) are authorised in the EU with no safety concern identified; the potassium salt E317 is simply not on the list.
Regulatory status
| Region | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Australia & New Zealand FSANZ |
Permitted | Permitted under the FSANZ Food Standards Code. |
| European Union EFSA / European Commission |
Not approved | Not on the EU authorised list of food additives (Annex II). |
| United States FDA (Food and Drug Administration) |
Permitted | Authorised for food use by the FDA (often GRAS for standard additives). |
Identification on labels
- E-number
- E317
Also printed asErythorbin acid · Potassium isoascorbate
Worth knowing
It has nearly all of vitamin C's chemistry and almost none of its vitamin activity — the mirror image does not fit the enzymes that need ascorbate. Older lists mislabel it "erythorbin acid", which is a half-translated German name for erythorbic acid (E315).
Conclusion
An antioxidant not currently authorised in the EU.
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Open the appEntry last reviewed 2026-07-28.
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