sodium thiosulfate
Function: Antioxidant
E539 is the European food-additive number for sodium thiosulfate, an antioxidant — used to stop fats and oils going rancid and to protect colour. sodium thiosulfate (E539) is an antioxidant used as a food additive.
What is E539 used for?
sodium thiosulfate (E539) is an antioxidant — used to stop fats and oils going rancid and to protect colour. It is added during food production for a technological purpose rather than for nutrition.
Is E539 safe or restricted?
E539 is an approved food additive in the EU and currently carries no special regulatory restrictions in the EU additive register. Forkin classifies it as “No regulatory flags” and does not make health claims. See the methodology for how regulatory levels are assigned.
Frequently asked questions about E539
- What is E539?
- E539 is the E-number for sodium thiosulfate, an antioxidant — used to stop fats and oils going rancid and to protect colour. sodium thiosulfate (E539) is an antioxidant used as a food additive.
- What is E539 used for?
- sodium thiosulfate (E539) is an antioxidant — used to stop fats and oils going rancid and to protect colour. Manufacturers add it during processing rather than for nutrition. The Forkin app shows which products in your scan history actually contain it.
- Is E539 vegan or vegetarian?
- It depends on the source. Many additives can be produced from plant, mineral, or animal-derived raw materials, and the ingredient list rarely states which was used. The Forkin app shows the verified vegan and vegetarian status per product where it's known, instead of a blanket guess.
- Is E539 safe, and is it banned anywhere?
- E539 is an approved food additive in the EU and currently carries no special regulatory restrictions in the EU additive register. Forkin classifies it as "No regulatory flags" and does not make health claims — see the methodology page for how regulatory levels are assigned, and the Forkin app for the full profile, including acceptable daily intake (ADI) and restrictions by country.
See the full profile in Forkin
The Forkin app surfaces the full regulatory profile of E539 — acceptable daily intake (ADI), restrictions by country, vegan/vegetarian status, alternative names, and which products in your scan history contain it.