E285: Sodium Tetraborate
Main role: restricted preservation
Also listed as: borax, disodium tetraborate
What is E285 (Sodium Tetraborate)?
Sodium tetraborate E285 is a borate compound with a very limited food-preservation context associated with specified caviar. The familiar name borax is also used for household and industrial products, which must not be treated as equivalent to a regulated food-grade preparation.
What does it do in food?
Its main role is restricted preservation. Preservation is one part of a food safety system. Recipe acidity, processing, packaging, and storage also affect how a product keeps. Follow the finished product’s storage instructions even when a preservative is listed.
Food and formulation examples
- Specified caviar preservation
These examples describe formulation roles, not a list of unrestricted legal uses. Availability and permitted applications differ by country and food category.
Label names and ingredient questions
Look for E285, E 285, or the ingredient name. Related names and label terms include borax, disodium tetraborate. A family code can cover more than one specified form; check the full declaration when the distinction matters.
Do not add household borax to food. The additive's restricted regulatory context is entirely different from cleaning powders, craft ingredients, or online borax health claims.
Is E285 safe?
There is no meaningful personal risk estimate from an E number alone. Food-grade specifications, allowed uses, amount consumed, and individual circumstances all matter. The authorization record below gives the legal scope; it is not a claim that every possible use is appropriate.
A label identifies the ingredient but usually not its concentration. Calculating daily intake requires the amount in the food and the quantities eaten.
Authorization and conditions of use
The Great Britain food additive register lists E285 as Sodium tetraborate (borax). This is an entry subject to its stated conditions, not unrestricted permission for every food. The record links to the applicable authorization terms. For an EU product, use the European Commission food additive database to check the relevant food category and limits. Other countries may use different names or rules.