E-numbers / Other additives / E1505
also: Citric acid triethyl ester · TEC
A citric-acid ester used to stabilise foams and whipped egg white in food, and as a plasticiser in food coatings.
Scan a barcode to check a food for triethyl citrate. NutraSafe Pro · £6.99/month · iPhone and Android
Pasteurised Dried Hen Egg Albumen, Acidity Regulator (Citric Acid), Stabiliser (Triethyl Citrate)
Triethyl citrate is the triethyl ester of citric acid, a colourless, nearly odourless liquid.
UK supermarket foods that declare E1505: 5 of the 43,325 we checked (under 0.1%)
Counted by its code or its name in the ingredient list.
Counted by NutraSafe from UK supermarket ingredient lists, September 2026. How we counted
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.
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.
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'.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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'.
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.
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