E300AntioxidantFlour treatment agent
What Is E300? Ascorbic Acid and Where It Is Used
Also known as: Vitamin C, L-ascorbic acid
E300 is the additive number of ascorbic acid, vitamin C. In food it is mostly used as an antioxidant that slows oxidation. It is common in iced tea, fruit juice, cured meats and flour.
- In the Besin database
- 808 products
- About 6.9 in every 100 products
- Source
- Plant-based
- Acceptable daily intake (ADI)
- No numerical value set
What does E300 do?
It slows colour and flavour loss in fruit juice and iced tea, helps colour develop in cured meat products and is used in flour as a flour treatment agent so the dough develops better. In some products it is added as a vitamin.
How is it made?
Usually made industrially from glucose, obtained from corn or wheat starch, through fermentation and chemical steps.
Vegan and halal: No animal raw material is used; it suits vegan and vegetarian diets.
Which products contain E300?
808 of the 11,663 packaged products in the Besin database list E300 (Ascorbic acid) in their ingredients. The categories where it appears most often:
- Iced Tea89 products
- Sucuk66 products
- Smoked Meat56 products
- Salami49 products
- Fruit Juice and Nectar44 products
- Soda41 products
Numbers as of the database snapshot of October 18, 2026.
Official evaluation
EFSA re-evaluated ascorbic acid and its salts (E300–E302) in 2015 and concluded that there is no safety concern at the reported uses and no need for a numerical ADI.
Food additives are regulated by the EU food additives regulation (Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008) and, in Türkiye, the Turkish Food Codex Regulation on Food Additives (Official Gazette, 30.06.2013, No. 28693). The ADI is the amount estimated to be safe to take every day over a lifetime, given per kilogram of body weight.
Frequently asked questions
Is E300 vitamin C?
Yes, ascorbic acid is vitamin C. When it is added as a food additive, though, the aim is usually to slow oxidation rather than to add a vitamin.
Why is there E300 in flour?
Ascorbic acid is used as a flour treatment agent; it strengthens the dough structure and helps bread rise better.
Which products contain E300 most often?
In the Besin database it appears most often in iced teas, sucuk, smoked meats, salami, fruit juices and sodas.
Related additives
Sources
- EFSA (2015): Re-evaluation of ascorbic acid (E300) and its salts
- the EU food additives regulation (Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008) and, in Türkiye, the Turkish Food Codex Regulation on Food Additives (Official Gazette, 30.06.2013, No. 28693)
Last reviewed: . This page is for information only and is not medical advice. To report a mistake, write to iletisim@besin.app.