Calcium erythorbate
An antioxidant not authorised in the EU.
- Category
- Antioxidants
- Vegan
- Yes
- Vegetarian
- Yes
What it is
E318 is the calcium 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 the curing reaction in meats, which is why it appears 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 the body handles it the same way, minus most of the vitamin activity. It is flagged only because this salt is not on the EU authorised list, while its relatives E315 and E316 are.
Erythorbic acid (E315) and sodium erythorbate (E316) are authorised in the EU with no safety concern identified; the calcium salt E318 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
- E318
Also printed asCalcium erythorbin · Calcium isoascorbate
Worth knowing
Older lists call it "calcium erythorbin", a half-translated German name; the erythorbate family is E315 through E318, and only the first two are permitted in the EU.
Conclusion
An obsolete, unauthorized antioxidant.
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Open the appEntry last reviewed 2026-07-28.
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