E511Magnesium chloride

E511 is magnesium chloride. In Appendix 1 of Circular 24/2019/TT-BYT it has the function colour retention agent, stabiliser and firming agent.

Did you know? In the salt food category, EFSA (2019) lists E511 as permitted only in sea salt.

Code: E511 · INS 511
Group: Colour retention agent, Stabilizer, Firming agent

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 E511 appears on labels

IngredientsIllustrative example

Wheat flour, vegetable oil, salt, sugar, colour retention agent (511), dried onion and garlic, pepper, natural colour (160a).

colour retention agent (511)colour retention agent 511E511INS 511On Vietnamese labels: Magnesi clorid

Magnesium chloride in food

Sea salt

Processed fruit and vegetables

Confectionery Flavoured drinks Sauces Meat products

Questions about magnesium chloride

What is E511 (magnesium chloride)?

According to Appendix 1 of Circular 24/2019/TT-BYT, magnesium chloride (INS 511) has the function colour retention agent, stabiliser and firming agent.

Is magnesium chloride harmful?

In 2019 EFSA concluded that exposure to chloride from hydrochloric acid and its potassium, calcium and magnesium salts (E507, E508, E509, E511) does not raise a safety concern at the reported use levels. EFSA used a reference value of 40 mg chloride/kg body weight per day: mean exposure in all age groups was at or below it, while 95th percentile exposure in toddlers, children and adolescents was slightly above it. The main contributors are processed fruit and vegetables, confectionery, flavoured drinks and sauces.

Is E511 permitted in Vietnam?

Yes. Magnesium chloride (INS 511) is listed in Appendix 1 of Circular 24/2019/TT-BYT, the list of additives permitted in food.

Other colour retention agents

E504Magnesium carbonatesvery low E512Stannous chloridelow E523Aluminium ammonium sulphatemoderate E528Magnesium hydroxidevery low E579Ferrous gluconatevery low E585Ferrous lactatevery low

See all colour retention agents →

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:e511)
Thông tư 24/2019/TT-BYT (văn bản hợp nhất 09/VBHN-BYT), Phụ lục 1
EFSA Journal (2019). Re-evaluation of hydrochloric acid (E 507), potassium chloride (E 508), calcium chloride (E 509) and magnesium chloride (E 511) as food additives

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