YenzoWhat is E336 (potassium tartrates)?
It covers the potassium salts of tartaric acid: monopotassium tartrate (E 336(i)) and dipotassium tartrate (E 336(ii)). EFSA describes tartaric acid and the tartrates as used as acidity regulators.
E336Potassium tartrates
E336 covers the potassium tartrates, potassium salts of tartaric acid: monopotassium tartrate (336(i), known as cream of tartar) and dipotassium tartrate (336(ii)). In food they adjust acidity.
Did you know? According to industry information cited by EFSA, in tartar from winemaking the tartaric acid is mostly present as monopotassium tartrate (e.g. 80–90%).
- Code
- E336 · INS 336
- Group
- Acidity regulator
In VietnamNot on Vietnam's list of permitted additivesNot on Vietnam's list of permitted additives (Circular 24/2019); it may be used only in a product whose declaration is registered with the Vietnam Food Administration
Risk level on the Yenzo Scalevery low?Based on the Open Food Facts additives taxonomy
How E336 appears on labels
IngredientsIllustrative example
Wheat flour, vegetable oil, salt, sugar, acidity regulator (336), dried onion and garlic, pepper, natural colour (160a).
acidity regulator (336)acidity regulator 336E336INS 336
INS sub-codes
INS 336(i)Monopotassium tartratekem tartar, cream of tartar
INS 336(ii)Dipotassium tartrate
Sources: Codex CXG 36-1989, Class Names and the International Numbering System (INS); Open Food Facts additives taxonomy, https://github.com/openfoodfacts/openfoodfacts-server/blob/main/taxonomies/additives.txt
Questions about potassium tartrates
Is potassium tartrates harmful?
In 2020 EFSA set a group ADI of 240 mg/kg body weight per day, expressed as tartaric acid, for L(+)-tartaric acid and tartrates (E 334–E 337, E 354), replacing the earlier 30 mg/kg. In the exposure scenario EFSA judged most relevant, intake in the population groups did not exceed this ADI. When tartaric acid from other additives (E 353, E 472d, E 472e, E 472f) and from natural occurrence is added, the 95th-percentile intake in toddlers would exceed the ADI; EFSA did not consider this to indicate a possible health concern because the exposure was overestimated.
Is Potassium tartrate (INS 336) permitted in Vietnam?
Potassium tartrate (INS 336) is not listed in Appendix 1 of Circular 24/2019/TT-BYT, the list of additives permitted in food, nor in Appendix 2B.
Can children and pregnant women have E336?
In the EU, additives may not be used in foods for infants and young children unless Annex II of Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 provides for it. Annex II lists E336 in category 13.1.3 (processed cereal-based foods and baby foods), but only the L(+) form and only in biscuits, rusks and baby foods. The Regulation has no separate provision for pregnant women. If you have a particular health condition, ask a doctor.
Other acidity regulators
E333Calcium citratesvery lowE334Tartaric acid (L(+)-)very lowE335Sodium tartratesvery lowE337Sodium potassium tartratevery lowE338Phosphoric acidlowE339Sodium phosphateslow
See all acidity regulators →Found in these products
Updated 20 October 2026
Sources (4)
- 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:e336)
- Thông tư 24/2019/TT-BYT (văn bản hợp nhất 09/VBHN-BYT), Phụ lục 1
- EFSA Journal (2020). Re-evaluation of l(+)-tartaric acid (E 334), sodium tartrates (E 335), potassium tartrates (E 336), potassium sodium tartrate (E 337) and calcium tartrate (E 354) as food additives
- Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 on food additives (consolidated text of 18.08.2026): Article 16 and Annex II, Part E, category 13.1 (foods for infants and young children)