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Sodium Lactate (E325) — What You Need to Know

Safe(9/10)Synthetic

The score is an eNumbers.org editorial summary, not an official agency rating or medical advice. Start with the regulatory status and primary sources below.

What Is Sodium Lactate?

Sodium lactate is the sodium salt of lactic acid, produced by neutralizing lactic acid with sodium hydroxide. It is a clear, colorless to slightly yellow hygroscopic liquid widely used in the food industry as a humectant, acidity regulator, and antimicrobial agent. It plays a critical role in extending the shelf life of processed meat products.

What Is It Used For?

Used primarily as a humectant and antimicrobial in processed meats, where it effectively inhibits Listeria monocytogenes growth. Also functions as a pH regulator in various food products.

Function: Humectant, pH regulator, antimicrobial agent

Regulatory & Editorial Context

📊
Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI)
Not specified mg/kg bw/day
🏛️
Regulatory Status
🇺🇸 USA (FDA): GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe)
🇪🇺 EU (EFSA): ADI not specified — considered safe with no numerical limit needed
⚠️ Key Concerns

Sodium salt of naturally occurring lactic acid. Used as humectant, pH regulator, and antimicrobial in meat products (effective against Listeria monocytogenes). Also used in intravenous fluids (Ringer's lactate solution) for medical treatment. No safety concerns at food-use levels. The body metabolizes lactate normally as part of energy metabolism.

Editorial context score

eNumbers.org currently assigns Sodium Lactate an editorial context label of Safe with a score of 9/10. This is 0.2 points above the database average for acidity regulators (8.8/10). Dataset reference year: 2014.

This score is not issued by EFSA, FDA, WHO or another regulator.

Commonly Found In

Processed meatsPoultryFresh pastaSalad dressingsConfectionery
Example brands:
HormelTyson FoodsOscar Mayer

Always check the label for E325 or 'Sodium Lactate'

▶Chemical Information
Formula: C3H5NaO3
Molecular Weight: 112.06 g/mol
CAS Number: 72-17-3
INS Number: INS 325
Also known as: E325, INS 325, Sodium L-lactate, Sodium 2-hydroxypropanoate

Frequently Asked Questions about Sodium Lactate

Current dataset status: FDA — GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe); EFSA/EU — ADI not specified — considered safe with no numerical limit needed. Reported concerns: Sodium salt of naturally occurring lactic acid. Used as humectant, pH regulator, and antimicrobial in meat products (effective against Listeria monocytogenes). Also used in intravenous fluids (Ringer's lactate solution) for medical treatment. No safety concerns at food-use levels. The body metabolizes lactate normally as part of energy metabolism. Regulatory status and individual risk are not the same; check the primary sources and permitted conditions of use.

Quick Facts

E-Number
E325
INS Number
INS 325
Category
Acidity Regulators
Origin
Synthetic
FDA Status
GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe)
EFSA Status
ADI not specified — considered safe with no numerical limit needed
ADI
Not specified mg/kg bw/day
Dataset Review
2014
Ingredient-level Dietary Notes
Vegan: ✅ YesHalal: ✅ YesKosher: ✅ YesGluten-Free: ✅ Yes

Carriers, processing aids and product certification can change suitability. Verify the final label and certifier.

Quick Links

Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional for health-related decisions.

Related Additives

Other acidity regulators in the same family

Lactic Acid (E270)Calcium Lactate (E327)Citric Acid (E330)Sodium Citrate (E331)