Is antioxidant E300 the same as vitamin C?

Yes, E300 is ascorbic acid, which is the same compound as vitamin C.

Is antioxidant E300 bad for health?

In the small amounts used in packaged food, it is not known to cause harm for most people, since it is the same substance as vitamin C found naturally in fruits.

Why is antioxidant added to food?

It is added to stop food from reacting with oxygen in the air, which helps keep color, taste and freshness for longer.

Can antioxidant E300 cause side effects?

At the low levels used in food, side effects are unlikely, though very large amounts of vitamin C from supplements may cause stomach upset in some people.

Does antioxidant E300 count as added sugar or a preservative?

It is not a sugar. It works like a preservative by slowing spoilage, even though its official category on labels is antioxidant.

Antioxidant

antioxidant

Antioxidant, often listed as E300 or INS 300, is usually ascorbic acid (vitamin C) added to packaged food to stop it from spoiling due to air exposure. It is widely used and generally well tolerated in the amounts found in food.

Not a declarable allergen

This is not on India’s mandatory declaration list. It may still matter to you, and you can add it to your own avoid list.

What it is

Antioxidant on Indian labels, especially E300 or INS 300, usually refers to ascorbic acid, which is vitamin C. It can be made by fermenting sugars from corn or other plants, then purifying the result into a powder. Food makers add small amounts of it to keep products fresh for longer. The same ingredient is also sold as a vitamin supplement.

Nutrition

As ascorbic acid, it is chemically the same as vitamin C, which the body needs for making collagen, healing wounds and absorbing iron from food. In packaged foods it is usually added in small amounts mainly to protect the product, not as a vitamin source, though it can add a little to your daily vitamin C intake. It does not add meaningful calories, fat, sugar or protein.

How it can affect health

Can affect: In the small amounts used in packaged food, it is not known to cause problems for most people. Very high intakes of vitamin C from supplements, well beyond what food additives provide, may cause stomach upset or diarrhea in some people.

Who should limit it

People with a known sensitivity to ascorbic acid or related compounds may want to check labels. People with certain kidney stone conditions are sometimes told to watch their overall vitamin C intake, and can discuss this with their doctor.

Where it is found

It is commonly added to packaged fruit juices, jams, cut fruits, processed meats, bread and baked goods, and some snacks to help keep color, flavor and freshness, and to slow down spoiling caused by oxygen.

Also written as

A different word for the same thing

Antioxidant (E300)en
INS 300en
and antioxidanten
antioxidanten
antioxidantsen

Names in other languages

English: Antioxidant
हिन्दी: एंटीऑक्सीडेंट
मराठी: अँटिऑक्सिडंट
বাংলা: অ্যান্টিঅক্সিডেন্ট
தமிழ்: ஆன்டிஆக்ஸிடன்ட்
తెలుగు: యాంటీఆక్సిడెంట్
ಕನ್ನಡ: ಆಂಟಿಆಕ್ಸಿಡೆಂಟ್

Products on Laddoo that list it

No product on Laddoo lists it under a name we can match yet. That is not a statement about any pack.

Questions people ask

Is antioxidant E300 the same as vitamin C?: Yes, E300 is ascorbic acid, which is the same compound as vitamin C.
Is antioxidant E300 bad for health?: In the small amounts used in packaged food, it is not known to cause harm for most people, since it is the same substance as vitamin C found naturally in fruits.
Why is antioxidant added to food?: It is added to stop food from reacting with oxygen in the air, which helps keep color, taste and freshness for longer.
Can antioxidant E300 cause side effects?: At the low levels used in food, side effects are unlikely, though very large amounts of vitamin C from supplements may cause stomach upset in some people.
Does antioxidant E300 count as added sugar or a preservative?: It is not a sugar. It works like a preservative by slowing spoilage, even though its official category on labels is antioxidant.