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E337 – Potassium Sodium Tartrate: Uses & Safety

E337 (potassium sodium tartrate) is an approved food additive used as an acidity regulator, stabilizer, and emulsifier. It occurs naturally in grapes and is derived from tartaric acid.

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Things worth knowing about "E337"

E337 (potassium sodium tartrate) is an approved food additive used as an acidity regulator, stabilizer, and emulsifier. It occurs naturally in grapes and is derived from tartaric acid.

What is E337?

E337, commonly known as potassium sodium tartrate or sodium potassium tartrate (also historically referred to as Rochelle salt or Seignette salt), is a salt of tartaric acid. It is produced by neutralizing tartaric acid with both sodium and potassium hydroxide. In the food industry, it is used as an approved additive under the EU designation E337.

Origin and Natural Occurrence

Tartaric acid and its salts occur naturally in many fruits, most notably in grapes. Potassium sodium tartrate was first isolated in the 17th century and is considered one of the oldest known chemical salts. Industrially, it is primarily derived from cream of tartar, a by-product of winemaking.

Use as a Food Additive

E337 serves several technological functions in the food industry:

Acidity regulator: It helps maintain and stabilize the pH level of food products.
Stabilizer: It prevents unwanted chemical changes in food, thereby extending shelf life.
Emulsifier: It supports the uniform distribution of fat and water within food products.
Leavening agent: In combination with sodium bicarbonate, it can act as a component in baking powder formulations.

Typical applications include cheese products, jams, jellies, confectionery, baked goods, and certain beverages.

Health and Safety Assessment

E337 is considered safe for consumption when used as intended. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has evaluated the substance and found no adverse health effects at levels typically used in food. An Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) value has been established collectively for the tartrate group (E334–E337).

Potential Effects on the Body

In very high amounts, potassium sodium tartrate may exert a laxative effect, as it is osmotically active in the intestine. This property was historically exploited in medicine. However, at normal dietary intake levels, this effect is not expected to occur.

Individuals with Kidney Disease

Since E337 contains both sodium and potassium, individuals with impaired kidney function or those following a low-sodium or low-potassium diet should monitor their intake and consult a healthcare professional if in doubt.

Labeling and Regulatory Status

In the European Union, E337 is approved under Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 on food additives. On product labels, it is listed either as E337 or under its chemical name potassium sodium tartrate. The substance is also recognized internationally by the Codex Alimentarius Commission.

References

European Food Safety Authority (EFSA): Re-evaluation of tartaric acid (E 334), sodium tartrates (E 335), potassium tartrates (E 336), sodium potassium tartrate (E 337) and calcium tartrate (E 354) as food additives. EFSA Journal, 2020.
European Commission: Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on food additives, 2008.
Codex Alimentarius Commission (FAO/WHO): General Standard for Food Additives (GSFA), CXS 192-1995, last updated 2023.

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