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E517 Ammonium Sulphate: Food Additive Explained

E517 is the EU food additive code for ammonium sulphate, a flour treatment agent and acidity regulator used in baked goods and fermented products.

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Things worth knowing about "E517"

E517 is the EU food additive code for ammonium sulphate, a flour treatment agent and acidity regulator used in baked goods and fermented products.

What is E517?

E517 is the European approval number for ammonium sulphate (chemical formula: (NH₄)₂SO₄), an inorganic salt approved as a food additive. It is primarily used as a flour treatment agent and acidity regulator in food production. Outside the food industry, ammonium sulphate is also widely used as a nitrogen-based agricultural fertiliser.

Uses in Food

In the food industry, E517 serves several key functions:

Flour treatment agent: It improves the baking properties of flour by strengthening the gluten network and optimising dough structure.
Acidity regulator: It helps to stabilise the pH level in food products.
Yeast nutrient: Ammonium sulphate provides nitrogen as a nutrient for baking yeast, thereby promoting fermentation.

Typical applications include baked goods such as bread, rolls, and fine pastries, as well as certain beverages and fermented products.

Safety and Regulatory Status

E517 is authorised in the European Union under Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 on food additives. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has assessed and classified ammonium sulphate as a food additive. At the levels typically used in food, ammonium sulphate is considered safe. No specific ADI (Acceptable Daily Intake) value has been established by EFSA, as the substance is regarded as safe at normal consumption levels.

Potential Health Effects

When used as intended in food products, E517 is considered safe for human health. At very high doses -- far beyond what is achievable through normal dietary intake -- ammonium sulphate can have irritant effects. The following points are relevant:

Individuals with impaired kidney function should exercise caution with high intakes of ammonium compounds, as these may place additional strain on ammonia metabolism.
For healthy individuals, dietary intake at approved concentrations is safe.
Allergic reactions to E517 are extremely rare and have not been documented as clinically relevant.

Labelling and Identification

Food products containing ammonium sulphate must declare this substance in the ingredients list either by its full name ammonium sulphate or its code E517. Consumers who wish to avoid food additives are advised to read the ingredients list on packaged products carefully.

References

European Parliament and Council of the EU: Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 on food additives. Official Journal of the European Union, 2008.
EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources added to Food (ANS): Re-evaluation of ammonium salts as food additives. EFSA Journal, 2012.
Food Standards Agency (FSA): Food additives -- ammonium compounds. www.food.gov.uk.

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