Triethyl citrate
A citric-acid ester used to stabilise foams and whipped egg white in food, and as a plasticiser in food coatings.
What is it?
Triethyl citrate is the triethyl ester of citric acid, a colourless, nearly odourless liquid. It is produced by reacting citric acid with ethanol. Citric acid is the same acid found naturally in lemons and oranges; the esterification simply attaches three ethyl groups to it.
What does it do?
In food, triethyl citrate acts as a foam stabiliser and whipping aid, particularly for egg-white foams, helping them hold their structure. It also functions as a plasticiser in edible coatings and encapsulation films, keeping them flexible rather than brittle. When consumed, it is rapidly broken down by esterases in the gut into citric acid and ethanol, both of which enter normal metabolic pathways.
Where you will see it
Found in whipped-topping products, meringue mixes, some confectionery coatings, and encapsulated flavourings. It may also appear in certain flavoured drinks. On an ingredient list it appears as 'triethyl citrate' or 'E1505'.
What the science says
Breakdown and metabolism
Triethyl citrate is rapidly hydrolysed in the digestive tract by esterases into citric acid and ethanol. Both are everyday products of normal food metabolism. Citric acid is a natural component of many fruits; ethanol at the quantities released from typical food use is well within what the body routinely handles from fermented foods. No accumulation in tissue has been identified.
EFSA concluded that triethyl citrate is rapidly hydrolysed to citric acid and ethanol in the gastrointestinal tract and that no specific ADI was considered necessary given the metabolic fate and low exposure.
Regulatory assessment and permitted levels
Triethyl citrate is approved in the UK and EU with specific maximum use levels. In foods intended for direct consumption, the limit is 3g per kg of food; in beverages, 1g per litre. EFSA reviewed it under the systematic re-evaluation programme for previously approved additives and found no safety concern at these levels.
E1505 is listed in Annex II of EU Regulation 1333/2008 as a permitted food additive with a maximum level of 3g/kg in ready-to-eat foods and 1g/litre in beverages.
Where it stands with the regulators
Who should be careful
No population group is specifically advised to avoid this additive. It contains no declarable allergens. Vegans should note it is typically synthetic but check product labelling, as some formulations in egg-white products combine it with animal-derived ingredients.
The honest read
Triethyl citrate is one of the more straightforward food additives on the permitted list. It is derived from citric acid, a substance found in every citrus fruit, and it breaks down in the gut back into the same ordinary compounds. The regulatory review process found nothing requiring restriction. This is a well-characterised ingredient with a long history of use in food production, and the current body of evidence does not flag it as an area of active scientific debate.
Related additives
Common questions
Is E1505 banned in the UK?
No. E1505 is on the UK FSA list of approved food additives and is permitted under legislation that was assimilated from EU Regulation 1333/2008 after Brexit.
What does E1505 actually do in food?
It is mainly used as a foam stabiliser for whipped egg white, helping the foam hold its structure. It is also used as a plasticiser in edible coatings to keep them pliable.
What foods contain E1505?
It appears in whipped-topping and meringue products, some confectionery coatings, encapsulated flavourings, and certain flavoured drinks. Check the ingredient list for 'triethyl citrate' or 'E1505'.
Is E1505 vegan?
The additive itself is synthetically produced from citric acid and ethanol and contains no animal-derived ingredients. However, products that use it, such as egg-white foams, are often not vegan. Always check the full ingredient list.
Sources
- UK FSA: Approved additives and E numbers
- Regulation (EU) No 1333/2008 on food additives (EUR-Lex)
- EFSA re-evaluation programme for food additives
See this on every food you scan
NutraSafe reads the label and puts every additive into plain English, with the source, right in the app.
Get NutraSafe on the App Store