potassium lactate
Function: Antioxidant
E326 is the European food-additive number for potassium lactate, an antioxidant — used to stop fats and oils going rancid and to protect colour. POTASSIUM LACTATE is a compound with formula KC3H5O3.
What is E326 used for?
potassium lactate (E326) 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 E326 safe or restricted?
E326 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 E326
- What is E326?
- E326 is the E-number for potassium lactate, an antioxidant — used to stop fats and oils going rancid and to protect colour. POTASSIUM LACTATE is a compound with formula KC3H5O3.
- What is E326 used for?
- potassium lactate (E326) 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 E326 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 E326 safe, and is it banned anywhere?
- E326 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 E326 — acceptable daily intake (ADI), restrictions by country, vegan/vegetarian status, alternative names, and which products in your scan history contain it.