Sodium acetates

What it is

Gives salt-and-vinegar crisps their tang, and controls acidity.

What it does

• Acidity regulator

  Controls how acidic or alkaline a food is.

• Preservative

  Slows spoilage caused by micro-organisms, so food stays safe for longer.

Regulatory position

• European Union

  Authorised for use in food

  Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008

Authorisation in one country says nothing about another, and the absence of a record here is not evidence either way. Where precision matters, follow the citation to the regulation itself.