Tag: Aluminum sulfate

According to chemical manufacturers, aluminum sulfate is a highly versatile substance used across multiple industries, making it very likely that you regularly encounter products that have aluminum sulfate in it without realizing it. This crystalline solid plays a vital role in everything from ensuring water is clean to helping baked goods rise.

While some forms of aluminum compounds, such as aluminum sulfate (E520), are approved food additives under strict regulations, consuming industrial-grade aluminum sulfate is dangerous and potentially fatal. The question "Is aluminum sulfate okay to eat?" is best answered by understanding this critical distinction between regulated food-grade uses and other hazardous forms.

In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lists food-grade aluminum sulfate as "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS) for use in food when following good manufacturing practices. So, why is aluminum sulfate in food, and what specific functional roles does it play in processed foods like baked goods and pickled items? This article delves into its various applications and its safety profile.

While naturally present in trace amounts in many foods, aluminum compounds are also widely used as food additives. This raises important questions about what does aluminum sulfate do to your body, particularly regarding its long-term health implications from dietary intake and poor excretion.