E401
Sodium alginate
Thickener · Gelling agent · Stabiliser
What it is
A seaweed extract that thickens sauces and stabilises ice cream.
What it does
Thickener
Makes a food thicker without changing its taste.
Gelling agent
Sets a liquid into a gel.
Stabiliser
Keeps a mixture from separating over time.
Regulatory position
European Union
Authorised for use in food
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.