E401 — Sodium alginate
E401 (sodium alginate) appears in the ingredient lists of 3,408 products sold in the United States. Function: carrier, emulsifier, humectant, sequestrant, stabilizer, thickener.
Nutri-Score
2,731 rated products
Median values
| Calories | 300 kcal |
| Sugars | 7.1 g |
| Saturated fat | 3.6 g |
| Salt | 1.0 g |
Categories
- Frozen foods282
- Cakes272
- Frozen desserts193
- Pasta dishes188
- Snacks140
- Biscuits105
- Cheeses103
- Breads80
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 containing it, by country
Products listing this additive in each country edition of Shelfpedia (Open Food Facts data)
Products
3,408 products, most viewed first · page 1 of 71.
Source: Open Food Facts export of 23 October 2026, ODbL, and USDA FoodData Central, April 2026 release, CC0 · Shelfpedia calculations (medians, distributions).