Aluminium sodium sulfate
Other names Soda alum, E521
Aluminium sodium sulfate: high in nickel; low in salicylate. If you're sensitive to any of these, check it against your profile before eating.
Intolerances
- NickelHigh
Aluminium sodium sulfate is not a nickel compound, but it is refined from mined ore, and nickel travels with aluminium out of the ground. The purity criteria of Regulation (EU) No 231/2012 cap heavy metals in food additives rather than removing them, so a residue remains by design.
Sources· 1
- Regulation (EU) No 231/2012, Annex, purity criteria per additive — heavy metals are capped, not excluded
- SalicylateLow
Same mineral family as the other aluminium sulfates, same absence of any salicylate mechanism.
- FODMAPsNone
- LactoseFODMAPsNone
- Histamine (+liberators / DAO inhibitors)None
Aluminium sodium sulfate (E521) is the raising-agent form, once common in baking powder and now largely replaced. No histamine route. Like its relatives, the question it raises is about aluminium intake rather than about amines.
Sources· 2
- Maintz & Novak, Am J Clin Nutr 2007
- Comas-Baste et al., Biomolecules 2020
- GlutenNo
- FructoseFODMAPsNone
- OligosaccharidesFODMAPsNone
- SorbitolFODMAPsNone
- SucroseNone
- TyramineNone
- OxalatesNone
Intolerance levels are based on our documented scientific sources. See sources →
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Frequently asked questions
Which intolerances does Aluminium sodium sulfate affect?
Aluminium sodium sulfate is notable for nickel and salicylate. Clear on FODMAPs, lactose, histamine, gluten, fructose, oligosaccharides, sorbitol, sucrose, tyramine and oxalates.
Does Aluminium sodium sulfate contain nickel?
Yes — Aluminium sodium sulfate is high in nickel. Aluminium sodium sulfate is not a nickel compound, but it is refined from mined ore, and nickel travels with aluminium out of the ground. The purity criteria of Regulation (EU) No 231/2012 cap heavy metals in food additives rather than removing them, so a residue remains by design.
Does Aluminium sodium sulfate contain salicylate?
Aluminium sodium sulfate contains only low levels of salicylate. Same mineral family as the other aluminium sulfates, same absence of any salicylate mechanism. Amounts vary by brand and recipe, so always check the label of the exact product.
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