E315 - Erythorbic acid

Functions: Antioxidant

Erythorbic acid -isoascorbic acid, D-araboascorbic acid- is a stereoisomer of ascorbic acid -vitamin C-. It is synthesized by a reaction between methyl 2-keto-D-gluconate and sodium methoxide. It can also be synthesized from sucrose or by strains of Penicillium that have been selected for this feature. It is denoted by E number E315, and is widely used as an antioxidant in processed foods.Clinical trials have been conducted to investigate aspects of the nutritional value of erythorbic acid. One such trial investigated the effects of erythorbic acid on vitamin C metabolism in young women; no effect on vitamin C uptake or clearance from the body was found. A later study found that erythorbic acid is a potent enhancer of nonheme-iron absorption.Since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned the use of sulfites as a preservative in foods intended to be eaten fresh -such as salad bar ingredients-, the use of erythorbic acid as a food preservative has increased. It is also used as a preservative in cured meats and frozen vegetables.It was first synthesized in 1933 by the German chemists Kurt Maurer and Bruno Schiedt. - Wikipedia

Risk of overexposure

EFSA evaluation: Scientific Opinion on the re‐evaluation of erythorbic acid -E 315- and sodium erythorbate -E 316- as food additives (2016/01/20)

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has determined that no population groups has more than 5% of members at risk of consuming more than the acceptable daily intake of E315 - Erythorbic acid.

To evaluate your exposure to the E315 - Erythorbic acid food additive, you can browse our list of products that contain it. See the list of products with E315 - Erythorbic acid below.

Names: Acide érythorbique, Acide isoascorbique, Acide D-isoascorbique, acide araboascorbique, acide saccharosonique, eryscorbine, CAS 89-65-6