Comparing E401 - sodium alginate vs E999 - Quillaia extract

Synonyms
E401
sodium alginate
E999
Quillaia extract
Soapbark extract
Quillay bark extract
Panama bark extract
Quillai extract
Murillo bark extract
Quillaia
Origins
Products

Found in 3,526 products

Found in 95 products

Search rank & volume
#1607.5K / mo🇺🇸U.S.
#1865.2K / mo🇺🇸U.S.
Awareness score

×0.31
under-aware

×7.65
over-aware

Search volume over time

Interest over time for 2 keywords in U.S. during the last 10 years.

Interest over time for 8 keywords in U.S. during the last 10 years.

Popular questions
  1. How to make popping boba without sodium alginate?

    True popping boba relies on sodium alginate/calcium spherification; without it, you can make similar beads using agar or gelatin (e.g., drip 0.8–1% agar-juice into very cold oil), but they won’t have a liquid center. Some use low‑methoxyl pectin with calcium to create thin skins, but results are less consistent than with alginate.

  2. Is sodium alginate bad for you?

    No—food‑grade sodium alginate is widely approved (e.g., FDA GRAS, EFSA) and is considered safe at typical food levels because it’s poorly absorbed. Large supplemental amounts may cause gas or affect mineral absorption in some people, and those on strict low‑sodium plans should check labels.

  3. What is sodium alginate used for?

    It’s a seaweed‑derived thickener, stabilizer, and gelling agent that forms gels with calcium—used for spherification, suspending particles in beverages, and improving texture in sauces, dairy, and desserts. It’s also used in some reflux products to form a protective “raft.”

  4. How to use sodium alginate for reflux?

    Alginate reflux remedies combine alginate with antacids to form a foamy “raft” on stomach contents; use an approved OTC product and follow its label (typically after meals and at bedtime). DIY use of food‑grade sodium alginate for reflux isn’t recommended—ask a pharmacist or clinician for suitable products.

  5. How to make sodium alginate?

    Commercial sodium alginate is produced from brown seaweeds via alkaline extraction of alginic acid, filtration, precipitation, conversion to the sodium salt, then drying and milling. It isn’t practical to make food‑grade sodium alginate at home; purchase certified food‑grade material instead.

  1. What is e999 kindle error?

    E999 is quillaia extract, a saponin-rich soapbark extract used as a foaming/emulsifying agent in foods and drinks. Any “Kindle error” reference to E999 is unrelated to this food additive.

  2. What is quillaia extract in root beer?

    In root beer, quillaia extract is a natural foaming agent that creates and stabilizes the creamy head and can help disperse flavor oils.

  3. What is quillaia extract made from?

    It’s made from the inner bark and small branches of the soapbark tree (Quillaja saponaria), rich in saponins along with tannins and other polyphenols.

  4. Why is quillaia extract in root beer?

    It’s added to provide foam and improve emulsification, helping keep flavor oils evenly dispersed.

  5. An e-code from category e990 – e999 would be reported in which of the following circumstances?

    When a product contains one of these ‘miscellaneous’ additives and must list it on the ingredient label; for example, E999 appears on permitted soft drinks or desserts where it’s used as a foaming/humectant agent.