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Sodium Ferrocyanide (E535) - Food Additive Guide

Sodium ferrocyanide (E535) is an approved food additive used as an anticaking agent in table salt to prevent clumping and maintain free-flowing texture.

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Things worth knowing about "Sodium Ferrocyanide"

Sodium ferrocyanide (E535) is an approved food additive used as an anticaking agent in table salt to prevent clumping and maintain free-flowing texture.

What is Sodium Ferrocyanide?

Sodium ferrocyanide, chemically known as sodium hexacyanoferrate(II), is an inorganic compound with the formula Na₄[Fe(CN)₆]. In the food industry, it is approved under the EU food additive code E535 and is primarily used as an anticaking agent in table salt and related products. Despite the presence of the word cyanide in its name, sodium ferrocyanide is fundamentally different from toxic cyanide compounds, as the cyanide groups are tightly bound to the iron atom and are not biologically available in this form.

Chemical Properties

Sodium ferrocyanide appears as a pale yellow, crystalline powder and is readily soluble in water. It belongs to the class of hexacyanoferrate compounds, in which iron is present in the +2 oxidation state. The strong bonds between the iron and cyanide groups make the compound chemically stable and largely biologically inert.

Use as a Food Additive

In food manufacturing, sodium ferrocyanide (E535) is mainly used to prevent clumping in table salt and other free-flowing powdered products. It ensures that salt remains easily pourable even under humid conditions.

Table salt: Most common application as an anticaking agent
Dietary salt: Also approved for use in potassium-based salt substitutes
Other foods: Permitted in certain processed products according to EU regulations

Permitted Levels and Regulation

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has assessed E535 as safe. The maximum permitted level in table salt is 20 mg/kg (calculated as ferrocyanide ion). Since table salt is consumed only in small quantities daily, actual intake of sodium ferrocyanide is extremely low and well below toxicologically relevant levels.

Safety and Toxicology

Although sodium ferrocyanide contains the word cyanide in its name, it is not toxic in its bound form. Free cyanide is not released under normal physiological conditions. The following points highlight the safety of the compound:

The compound is poorly absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract and is largely excreted unchanged.
Long-term studies show no carcinogenic or mutagenic properties at approved levels of use.
EFSA conducted a comprehensive re-evaluation in 2018 and confirmed that no safety concerns exist when the substance is used as intended.

Distinction from Toxic Cyanide Compounds

It is important to distinguish sodium ferrocyanide from sodium cyanide (NaCN), which is highly toxic. In sodium ferrocyanide, the cyanide groups are covalently bonded to the iron atom, meaning no free cyanide ions are released. This chemical stability makes the substance suitable for use in food products.

Labeling and Alternative Names

Sodium ferrocyanide is declared on food packaging as E535 or as sodium hexacyanoferrate(II). Consumers who monitor food additives can find this substance listed in the ingredients of table salt products.

References

European Food Safety Authority (EFSA): Re-evaluation of sodium ferrocyanide (E 535), potassium ferrocyanide (E 536) and calcium ferrocyanide (E 538) as food additives. EFSA Journal, 2018.
Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on food additives.
WHO Food Additives Series: Safety evaluation of certain food additives. World Health Organization, Geneva.

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