E578 Calcium gluconate

Get a personal answer

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Every diet

VeganYes

Gluten-freeDepends

The sugar may come from wheat, but purification removes the protein. Check with the brand if wheat is a concern for you.

HalalYes

KosherYes

KetoYes

Low-FODMAPYes

The short answer

Calcium gluconate (E578) is a calcium salt that adds calcium to fortified foods and helps canned vegetables keep their firmness. It is a safe, vegan source of calcium, though it supplies much less calcium per gram than calcium carbonate.

90/100

Generally safe

Fine for most people at normal amounts.

E-numberE578

Comes fromFermented

What it doesAcidity regulators

Glycemic index—

Daily limitNot set

Also calledE578, Calcium salt of gluconic acid

Rules by country

🇺🇸 US FDAApproved

🇪🇺 European UnionApproved

🇨🇦 Health CanadaApproved

CaliforniaNo extra rules

Permitted in the US, EU and Canada as a calcium source and firming agent. It is about 9 percent elemental calcium by weight.

Daily limit: Experts haven’t set a number because normal food amounts are far below any level of concern.

What is it?

Calcium gluconate dissolves easily in water. Food makers use it in drinks and fortified foods where calcium carbonate would leave grit, and it helps firm the texture of canned vegetables.

Where it comes from: Made by neutralizing gluconic acid, which comes from fungal fermentation of glucose, with calcium carbonate. It is then dried into a white crystalline powder.

Why it’s in food

Adds calcium to plant-based milks
Fortifies orange juice
Firms canned vegetables
Dissolves cleanly in clear drinks

Often found in

Plant-based milksFortified orange juiceCanned vegetablesSupplement tablets

Also listed as: E578, Calcium salt of gluconic acid

Health & gut impact

CalciumBenefit

Calcium supports bone and muscle health. Calcium gluconate is about 9 percent calcium by weight, so a product needs more of it than of a carbonate source to deliver the same calcium.

NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, calcium fact sheet

What can I use instead?

Calcium carbonate (E170)

Ratio: About 1 g of gluconate equals 0.25 g of carbonate for the same calcium

Best for: Fortified foods where grit does not matter

Calcium chloride (E509)

Ratio: Varies by product

Best for: Firming canned vegetables

More acidity regulators:

Acetic acid E260Acetic acid (E260) is the acid that makes vinegar sour. Diluted in food it is considered safe. The hazard is the concentrated factory form, not a splash of vinegar.Generally safe Ammonium carbonate E503Ammonium carbonate (E503) is a traditional leavening agent that makes thin cookies and crackers crisp. It breaks down into gas in the oven, so little of it stays in the finished food.Generally safe Calcium carbonate E170Calcium carbonate (E170) is ground limestone, the same calcium found in antacids. It adds calcium to plant milks and flour and is very safe.Generally safe Calcium chloride E509Calcium chloride (E509) is a salty calcium salt that firms tofu, cheese curds and pickles. It is considered safe at food doses. Too much tastes bitter, which is why recipes use a little.Generally safe

Common questions

Is calcium gluconate as good as calcium carbonate?

It is absorbed well, but it contains much less calcium by weight, so a product needs more of it for the same amount.

Is calcium gluconate safe?

Yes. It is approved in the US, EU and Canada and appears in many fortified foods and supplements.

Is Calcium gluconate safe?

Generally safe (90/100). Permitted in the US, EU and Canada as a calcium source and firming agent. It is about 9 percent elemental calcium by weight.

Is Calcium gluconate gluten-free?

Depends. The sugar may come from wheat, but purification removes the protein. Check with the brand if wheat is a concern for you.

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Scientific sources & regulatory citations

EFSA OpenFoodTox: E578
NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, calcium fact sheet

INS 578 · CAS 299-28-5