Comparing E508 - Potassium chloride vs E518 - Magnesium sulphate
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Found in 33 products
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Interest over time for 3 keywords in U.S. during the last 10 years.
Interest over time for 4 keywords in U.S. during the last 10 years.
Popular questions
What is potassium chloride used for?
In foods, E508 is used as a sodium‑reducing salt substitute and flavoring agent, and it can help with preservation and texture in products like cured meats, brines, and some gels/dairy.
Is potassium chloride good for you?
It can help lower sodium intake and adds potassium, but typical food amounts are small and it isn’t a health supplement; benefits depend on your diet and health status.
Is potassium chloride safe?
Yes—it's approved/GRAS and considered safe at normal food-use levels; people with kidney problems or on potassium‑raising drugs (e.g., ACE inhibitors, ARBs, potassium‑sparing diuretics) should be cautious with high‑potassium salt substitutes.
Is potassium chloride bad for you?
Not for most people at food levels, but excessive intake can raise blood potassium (hyperkalemia) and upset the stomach, especially in those with kidney or heart disease or on certain medications.
Is potassium chloride a salt?
Yes—it's an inorganic salt (KCl), often used as a substitute for table salt (sodium chloride).
What do epsom salts do?
In foods, magnesium sulfate (E518) acts mainly as a firming agent and magnesium nutrient; brewers also use it to adjust water chemistry, which can accentuate hop bitterness and support yeast.
Do epsom salts work?
Yes—at good manufacturing practice levels it effectively firms certain fruits and vegetables and supplies magnesium, and in brewing it reliably adjusts flavor balance and fermentation; it’s GRAS in the U.S. and authorized in the EU as E518.
How do epsom salts work?
Magnesium ions cross-link pectins and interact with proteins to improve firmness/texture, while also providing bioavailable magnesium; in brewing, sulfate/magnesium in the water can enhance hop bitterness and support yeast performance.
What is magnesium sulfate used for?
As a food additive it’s used as a firming agent in processed produce, as a magnesium nutrient supplement, and to modify brewing water chemistry; it’s permitted at levels consistent with good manufacturing practice.
What plants like epsom salts?
Plants showing magnesium deficiency—often tomatoes, peppers, and roses—may benefit because Epsom salt supplies magnesium and sulfur, but it offers little advantage in magnesium-sufficient soils and overuse can upset nutrient balance.