E326Potassium lactate

E326 is potassium lactate, the potassium salt of lactic acid. In food it controls acidity and keeps moisture in, and also works as an antioxidant and emulsifier.

Code: E326 · INS 326
Group: Acidity regulator, Antioxidant, Emulsifier, Humectant

In Vietnam✓ PermittedOn the list of permitted additives — Circular 24/2019, Appendix 1

Risk level on the Yenzo Scalevery low?Based on the Open Food Facts additives taxonomy

How E326 appears on labels

IngredientsIllustrative example

Wheat flour, vegetable oil, salt, sugar, acidity regulator (326), dried onion and garlic, pepper, natural colour (160a).

acidity regulator (326)acidity regulator 326E326INS 326On Vietnamese labels: Kali lactat

Potassium lactate in food

Milk, cheese, cream Fish and seafood, canned

Infant formula, foods for young children

Confectionery Baked goods Processed meat Seasonings, soup cubes, sauces

Eggs and egg products

Questions about potassium lactate

What is E326 (potassium lactate)?

It is potassium lactate, the potassium salt of lactic acid. Circular 24/2019/TT-BYT lists E326 as an acidity regulator, antioxidant, emulsifier and humectant.

Is potassium lactate harmful?

The JECFA database (the FAO/WHO expert committee) records an ADI of “not limited” for potassium lactate, evaluated in 1974; the same ADI is also recorded from 1973.

Is INS 326 permitted in Vietnam?

Yes. Potassium lactate (INS 326) is listed in Appendix 1 of Circular 24/2019/TT-BYT, the list of additives permitted in food, as an acidity regulator, antioxidant, emulsifier and humectant.

Can children and pregnant women have E326?

The JECFA record notes that neither D(-)-lactic acid nor DL-lactic acid should be used in infant foods. It does not mention pregnant women separately.

Other acidity regulators

E325Sodium lactatevery low E327Calcium lactatevery low E330Citric acidvery low E331Sodium citratesvery low E332Potassium citratesvery low E333Calcium citratesvery low

See all acidity regulators →

Updated 21 October 2026

How Yenzo scores

Sources (3)

Open Food Facts additives taxonomy (Yenzo's table cites no EFSA opinion for this code). Open Food Facts additives taxonomy, https://github.com/openfoodfacts/openfoodfacts-server/blob/main/taxonomies/additives.txt (entry en:e326)
Thông tư 24/2019/TT-BYT (văn bản hợp nhất 09/VBHN-BYT), Phụ lục 2A (mức sử dụng tối đa) và Phụ lục 3 (phụ gia và nhóm thực phẩm dùng theo GMP)
JECFA (FAO/WHO) evaluation database: Potassium lactate, INS 326

Information only, not medical advice. The risk level is the additive's class in Yenzo's open scoring method, based on the cited source.