Additive · Carrier

E401 — Sodium alginate · page 4

E401 (sodium alginate) appears in the ingredient lists of 351 products sold in the United Kingdom. Function: carrier, emulsifier, humectant, sequestrant, stabiliser, thickener.

351products with a complete record
19%rated A or B on Nutri-Score
6.2 gsugars per 100 g (median)
0.60 gsalt per 100 g (median)

Nutri-Score

How rated products spread
A 11%B 8%C 25%D 30%E 26%

276 rated products

Median values

Per 100 g, across all 351 products
Energy215 kcal
Sugars6.2 g
Saturates4.2 g
Salt0.60 g

Status in the United States (FDA)

Listed in the FDA inventory “Substances Added to Food”, with the regulations 21 CFR 173.310, 184.1724.

Technical effects listed by the FDA: emulsifier or emulsifier salt, firming agent, flavor enhancer, formulation aid, processing aid, stabilizer or thickener, surface-active agent, texturizer

The inventory is a partial list, and a listing is not an FDA approval of every use; the regulations set the permitted uses.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Substances Added to Food (updated 9/8/2026), public domain · CAS 9005-38-3 via Wikidata (CC0)

Products

351 products, most viewed first · page 4 of 8.

Mushroom and Leek Sausages, Waitrose
Mushroom and Leek SausagesWaitrose2 scansA
Dairy milk caramel cake slices, Cadbury
Dairy milk caramel cake slicesCadbury · 52 scansE
banana slices, Mr Kipling
banana slicesMr Kipling2 scansE
Caramel Mini Roll, Cadbury
Caramel Mini RollCadbury2 scans
Pimiento Stuffed Olives, Morrisons
Pimiento Stuffed OlivesMorrisons · 340 g2 scans
Udon Noodles, Morrisons
Udon NoodlesMorrisons · 2 x 150 g2 scansB
Spicy Thai flavour imp, Blue Dragon
Spicy Thai flavour impBlue Dragon · 67 g2 scansC
Vegan quorn roll, Quorn
Vegan quorn rollQuorn2 scans
Salted caramel real dairy ice cream, Mackie's of Scotland
Salted caramel real dairy ice creamMackie's of Scotland · 1 l2 scansD
S
Scottish Tablet Ice CreamMackie’s · 1 L2 scansD
Bramley Apple Pies 6 Pack, Tesco
Bramley Apple Pies 6 PackTesco · 65 g x 62 scansD
Roarsomes, Quorn
RoarsomesQuorn · 240g2 scansA
Double Chocolate, Cream o’ Galloway
Double ChocolateCream o’ Galloway · 100 g2 scansD
Mighty Non-Meaty Sausages, Goodlife
Mighty Non-Meaty SausagesGoodlife · 252 g2 scansA
Butter, Tesco
ButterTesco · 500g2 scansC
Caramel vanilla ICE CREAM, Tesco
Caramel vanilla ICE CREAMTesco · 900 ml2 scansD
Chocolate Trifle, Asda
Chocolate TrifleAsda2 scansD
Chocolate Trifles, Asda
Chocolate TriflesAsda · 200g2 scansD
Richmond 12 thick pork sausages, Richmond
Richmond 12 thick pork sausagesRichmond2 scans
Vegan bacon, This isn't
Vegan baconThis isn't · 105g2 scansC
Milano inspired no salami slices
Milano inspired no salami slices2 scansC
Southern fried 'no chicken' nuggets, Sainsbury's
Southern fried 'no chicken' nuggetsSainsbury's · 300g2 scansA
Barritas fresa, Marinela
Barritas fresaMarinela · 55 g2 scansE
Manzanilla Olives with Anchovy, Fragata
Manzanilla Olives with AnchovyFragata · 350 g2 scansD
Aunty's Delicious Chocolate Steamed Puds 2 x
Aunty's Delicious Chocolate Steamed Puds 2 x · 2 x 95 g2 scansD
Battered Onion Rings, Sainsbury's
Battered Onion RingsSainsbury's1 scanB
Chocolate Twists, Marks & Spencer
Chocolate TwistsMarks & Spencer · 140g1 scanE
Raspberry Royale Dessert, M&S Food
Raspberry Royale DessertM&S Food · 150 g1 scanC
M&S -FOOD- RASPBERRY JELLY TRIFLE MADA WITH BRITIS, Marks & Spencer
M&S -FOOD- RASPBERRY JELLY TRIFLE MADA WITH BRITISMarks & Spencer1 scanC
4 Chocolate & Salted Caramel Hot Cross Buns, Sainsbury's Taste The Difference
4 Chocolate & Salted Caramel Hot Cross BunsSainsbury's Taste The Difference1 scanC
Olive oil SPREAD, Marks & Spencer
Olive oil SPREADMarks & Spencer1 scanE
Profiterole Stack Dessert Menu, Marks & Spencers
Profiterole Stack Dessert MenuMarks & Spencers1 scanE
Custard Choux Buns, Marks & Spencer
Custard Choux BunsMarks & Spencer · 205 g1 scanD
Profiteroles, Marks & Spencers
ProfiterolesMarks & Spencers · 118 g1 scanE
Pimento stuffed olives with Spanish cheese, Sainsbury's
Pimento stuffed olives with Spanish cheeseSainsbury's1 scanC
2 Apple Strudels, Sainsbury's
2 Apple StrudelsSainsbury's · 600g1 scanC
Maple Pecan Plaits, Asda Bakery
Maple Pecan PlaitsAsda Bakery · 2 pastries1 scanD
Almond Croissant, Asda
Almond CroissantAsda1 scanD
Chin Chin, Jafro Foods
Chin ChinJafro Foods · 250g1 scanE
Coconut Chin Chin, Jafra
Coconut Chin ChinJafra · 450g1 scanE
Fresh instant noodles
Fresh instant noodles1 scan
Fresh Instant Noodles
Fresh Instant Noodles1 scan
Beyond sausage, Beyond Meat
Beyond sausageBeyond Meat · 4 x 50 g1 scanC
Wild pacific salmon fillet in a dill & mustard sauce, NiXe
Wild pacific salmon fillet in a dill & mustard sauceNiXe · 190g1 scanA
Lemon meringue pie, Confiserie Firenze (Lidl)
Lemon meringue pieConfiserie Firenze (Lidl) · 475 g1 scanD
Toffee Pavlova, Confiserie Firenze
Toffee PavlovaConfiserie Firenze · 302 g1 scanE
Sunflower spread
Sunflower spread1 scan
Chocolate Gâteau
Chocolate Gâteau · 75g1 scanD

Source: Open Food Facts export of 1 November 2026, ODbL · Shelfpedia calculations (medians, distributions).