E500Sodium carbonates

E500 covers sodium carbonate (500i), sodium hydrogen carbonate (500ii) and sodium sesquicarbonate (500iii). In Appendix 1 of Circular 24/2019/TT-BYT these substances have the functions raising agent, acidity regulator, anticaking agent, emulsifying salt, stabiliser and thickener.

Code: E500 · INS 500
Group: Raising agent, Acidity regulator, Anticaking agent, Emulsifying salt, Stabilizer, Thickener

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 E500 appears on labels

IngredientsIllustrative example

Wheat flour, vegetable oil, salt, sugar, raising agent (500), dried onion and garlic, pepper, natural colour (160a).

raising agent (500)raising agent 500E500INS 500On Vietnamese labels: Natri carbonat

INS sub-codes

INS 500(i)Sodium carbonatenatri carbonat

INS 500(ii)Sodium hydrogen carbonatenatri hydrocarbonat, natri bicarbonat, natri hydro carbonat, sodium bicarbonate, baking soda

INS 500(iii)Sodium sesquicarbonate

Sources: Thông tư 24/2019/TT-BYT (Bộ Y tế) quy định về quản lý và sử dụng phụ gia thực phẩm, Phụ lục 1; 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 sodium carbonates

What is E500 (sodium carbonates)?

According to Appendix 1 of Circular 24/2019/TT-BYT, the forms of E500 have the functions raising agent, acidity regulator, anticaking agent, emulsifying salt, stabiliser and thickener; the function of each form is on its own row of the appendix.

Is sodium carbonate harmful?

According to the JECFA (FAO/WHO expert committee on food additives) evaluation summaries, sodium carbonate (INS 500i) was last evaluated in 1965 with an ADI of "not limited". Sodium hydrogen carbonate (INS 500ii) also has an ADI of "not limited" from 1965, and sodium sesquicarbonate (INS 500iii) was given "not specified" (no numerical ADI is needed) in 1981. This is a JECFA evaluation, not an EFSA opinion or the current EU position; no EFSA re-evaluation of E 500 was found.

Is E500 permitted in Vietnam?

Yes. Sodium carbonate (ins 500(i)), sodium hydrogen carbonate (ins 500(ii)) and sodium sesquicarbonate (ins 500(iii)) are all listed in Appendix 1 of Circular 24/2019/TT-BYT, the list of additives permitted in food.

Can children and pregnant women have E500?

In the EU, Annex II of Regulation (EC) 1333/2008 permits sodium carbonates (E 500) in category 13.1.3 (processed cereal-based foods and baby foods) and category 13.1.5.1 (foods for special medical purposes for infants), at quantum satis, only as a rising agent. The source says nothing specific about pregnant women. If you have a particular health condition, ask a doctor.

Other raising agents

E450Diphosphateslow E452Polyphosphateslow E501Potassium carbonatesvery low E503Ammonium carbonatesvery low E523Aluminium ammonium sulphatemoderate E541Sodium aluminium phosphate, acidicmoderate

See all raising agents →

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Updated 23 October 2026

How Yenzo scores

Sources (6)

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:e500)
Thông tư 24/2019/TT-BYT (văn bản hợp nhất 09/VBHN-BYT), Phụ lục 1
JECFA Evaluations – SODIUM CARBONATE (INS 500i), IPCS INCHEM
Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 on food additives, Annex II Part E, point 13.1 (foods for infants and young children)
JECFA Evaluations – SODIUM HYDROGEN CARBONATE (INS 500ii), IPCS INCHEM
JECFA Evaluations – SODIUM SESQUICARBONATE (INS 500iii), IPCS INCHEM

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