E509: Calcium Chloride
Main role: firming
Also listed as: CaCl2
What is E509 (Calcium Chloride)?
Calcium chloride is a calcium salt used to help foods retain firmness and support particular processing steps. Calcium ions can interact with pectin and proteins, making the ingredient useful in several different recipes.
What does it do in food?
Its main role is firming. Mineral ingredients can adjust acidity, firm a food, or keep powders flowing. A technical mineral ingredient does not establish a nutritional dose; use the nutrition declaration to assess amounts per serving.
Food and formulation examples
- Canned vegetables
- Pickled foods
- Cheesemaking
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 E509, E 509, or the ingredient name. Related names and label terms include CaCl2. A family code can cover more than one specified form; check the full declaration when the distinction matters.
Firming a vegetable is a texture function, not a claim that the product is calcium-rich. Cheesemaking use also differs from the quantity left in the final cheese.
Is E509 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 E509 as Calcium chloride. 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.