Additive · Carrier

E401 — Sodium alginate · page 8

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

ABCDE

A 11%B 8%C 25%D 30%E 26%

276 rated products

Median values

Per 100 g, across all 351 products

Energy	215 kcal
Sugars	6.2 g
Saturates	4.2 g
Salt	0.60 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)