What E500 actually is
E500 is the code covering sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate. Bicarbonate of soda is the familiar one: heat it, or mix it with an acid, and it releases carbon dioxide, which is what makes cakes and soda bread rise. Baking powder is bicarbonate pre-mixed with a powdered acid so it works without you adding lemon juice or buttermilk.
What it is made from
Manufactured from salt and limestone by the Solvay process, or refined from natural trona deposits. It is a mineral product with no plant or animal origin.
Vegan, vegetarian, and halal status
Sodium carbonates are mineral-derived and suit every dietary requirement. This is one of the least complicated ingredients on any label.
Is E500 safe?
E500 is permitted with no numerical intake limit in the EU, UK, and US. Bicarbonate is used medically as an antacid, which indicates how it is regarded. The one thing worth knowing is that it contributes sodium: a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda carries roughly 1,200 mg of sodium, which is a meaningful share of a day's intake, though nobody eats it by the spoonful in food. Very large medicinal doses can disturb electrolyte balance, which is why antacid packaging carries dosage limits.
- Contributes sodium; roughly 1,200 mg per teaspoon of bicarbonate
- Very large medicinal doses can disturb electrolyte balance, which is why antacid dosing is limited
- No intake limit set for food additive use
Where regulators stand
- EFSA (EU)
- Permitted with no numerical acceptable daily intake.
- FDA (US)
- Generally recognized as safe.
Foods it turns up in
- Cakes, biscuits, and soda bread
- Baking powder and self-raising flour
- Noodles and some Asian breads
- Confectionery, including honeycomb
- Antacid medicines
Names it hides behind
- E500
- Sodium carbonates
- Sodium bicarbonate
- Bicarbonate of soda
- Baking soda
- Raising agent (E500)
Common questions
- Is E500 the same as baking soda?
- E500 covers sodium bicarbonate, which is baking soda or bicarbonate of soda, and sodium carbonate, which is washing soda. The bicarbonate is the one used in baking.
- What is the difference between baking soda and baking powder?
- Baking powder is bicarbonate already mixed with a powdered acid, so it works with liquid alone. Plain bicarbonate needs an acid such as buttermilk, yoghurt, or lemon juice.
- Is E500 vegan and halal?
- Yes. It is a mineral compound made from salt and limestone with no plant or animal origin.
- Does bicarbonate add much salt?
- It adds sodium rather than salt as such, roughly 1,200 mg per teaspoon. In a baked product the amount per serving is small, but it does count.
- Why does bicarbonate make things rise?
- Heat or acid makes it release carbon dioxide, and those bubbles expand the batter as it sets.
Checking a real pack
This page answers the code. The pack in your hand is what decides, because the same code can come from different sources depending on the manufacturer. LabelWise, formerly SafeChoice, scans the label and explains what is in front of you.
Related
LabelWise content is educational and describes how additives are made, regulated, and labelled. It is not medical, dietary, or religious advice. For certification questions, the mark on the pack and the certifying body are the authority.