Comparing E516 - Calcium sulphate vs E517 - Ammonium sulphate

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Overview

E516 - Calcium sulphate

Calcium sulphate (E516), also called gypsum, is a food-grade mineral salt used to firm foods, strengthen dough, and help powders stay free‑flowing. You’ll most often see it in tofu, baking mixes, flours, and some canned or processed foods. Regulators in the EU and U.S. allow its use under good manufacturing practice.

E517 - Ammonium sulphate

Ammonium sulphate (E517) is a food additive used mainly in baking. It helps yeast grow and supports dough strength, so breads rise well and bake evenly. It is permitted in both the U.S. and the EU when made to food-grade standards.

Synonyms

E516

Calcium sulphate

Gypsum

Selenite

Calcium sulfate

calcium sulfate added to prevent caking

E517

Ammonium sulphate

ammonium sulfate

Functions

anticaking agent firming agent flour treatment agent

flour treatment agent

Origins

Products

Found in 2,164 products

Found in 1,716 products

Search rank & volume

#2293.6K / mo🇺🇸U.S.

#10418.6K / mo🇺🇸U.S.

Awareness score

×6.31

over-aware

×1.58

over-aware

Search volume over time

Interest over time for 6 keywords in U.S. during the last 10 years.

Interest over time for 3 keywords in U.S. during the last 10 years.

Popular questions

What is gypsum used for?
In foods (E516), gypsum (calcium sulfate) is used as a stabiliser/firming and anti‑caking agent, a tofu coagulant, and to adjust brewing water; outside food it’s used for plaster, drywall, and as a desiccant.
What is gypsum board?
Gypsum board (drywall) is a building panel with a calcium sulfate core faced with paper, used for interior walls and ceilings—it's a construction use of the same mineral, not a food application of E516.
What does gypsum do for soil?
It supplies calcium and sulfate without notably changing pH, and can improve structure and water infiltration in sodic (sodium-affected) soils by displacing sodium; it has little effect on non‑sodic clays.
What is selenite good for?
Selenite is the crystalline mineral form of gypsum (calcium sulfate); it’s used like gypsum in construction materials and as a source of calcium and sulfate, including limited food uses as additive E516.
How much gypsum to add to soil?
Apply based on a soil test: typical maintenance rates are about 10–40 lb per 1,000 sq ft (50–200 g/m²) for lawns/gardens, while reclaiming sodic soils can require much more (around 1–4 tons/acre, 2–9 t/ha). Over‑application won’t fix non‑sodic clays and can add unnecessary salts.