Comparing E331 - Sodium citrates vs E452IV - Calcium polyphosphate

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Overview

E331 - Sodium citrates

Sodium citrates (E331) are the sodium salts of citric acid. They control acidity, help foods stay stable, and make processed cheese melt smoothly. You’ll find them in drinks, dairy, and many everyday packaged foods.

E452IV - Calcium polyphosphate

Calcium polyphosphate (E452iv) is a family of calcium salts made from chains of phosphate units. Food makers use it to hold moisture, help oil and water mix, and keep texture steady in many processed foods. It also goes by calcium metaphosphate.

Synonyms

E331

Sodium citrates

E452iv

Calcium polyphosphate

Calcium metaphosphate

Functions

acidity regulator emulsifying salt sequestrant stabilizer

emulsifying salt humectant sequestrant stabilizer thickener

Origins

Plant

Microbiological

Synthetic

Products

Found in 14,247 products

Found in 1 products

Search rank & volume

#388170 / mo🇺🇸U.S.

#54710 / mo🇺🇸U.S.

Awareness score

×0.00

under-aware

×1.08

normal

Search volume over time

Search history data is not available.

Popular questions

What is e331 in food?
E331 is sodium citrates—the mono-, di-, and trisodium salts of citric acid—used mainly as acidity regulators/buffers, sequestrants, and emulsifying salts in foods like soft drinks and processed cheese.
How are sodium citrates used in molecular gastronomy?
They’re used to adjust and buffer pH, chelate calcium, and act as an emulsifying salt—commonly to make ultra-smooth, meltable cheese sauces and to tune acidity/calcium levels for techniques like spherification and stabilizing foams.
What are sodium citrates degradation byproducts?
Under normal food use they’re stable; with strong heating/combustion they decompose to carbon oxides (CO2/CO) and sodium oxides (and related inorganic residues).
Why does sodium citrates burn?
It isn’t flammable; any “burning” sensation typically comes from irritation of skin, eyes, or mouth at high concentrations due to its mildly alkaline, saline nature, and on heating it decomposes rather than sustaining a flame.