E523 (Aluminum ammonium sulfate) is a chemical compound resulting from the treatment of aluminium sulphate and sulphuric acid with ammonia gas or crystallisation from an aqueous compound of ammonium sulphates and aluminium.

It appears in the form of a white powder.

What it is used for and where

Food

Ingredient on the European food additives list as E523, acting as a stabilising and firming agent in meat products, seasonings, salt substitutes. In pickles it functions as a hardening agent. Leavening agent.

Medical

It is used in the treatment of massive haemorrhages of vesical origin.

Other uses

A primary taste repellent for birds, it is an irritant to moist tissues that are associated with the sense of taste to prevent predation on fruit, vegetables.

Safety

EFSA's Scientific Panel on Food Additives provided a scientific opinion reviewing the safety of aluminium sulphates (E520-523) and sodium aluminium phosphate, acid (E541) as food additives and concluded that there is no concern regarding genotoxicity and carcinogenicity. The Panel concluded that aluminium sulphates (E520-523) and sodium aluminium phosphate, acid (E541) are of no safety concern in current authorised uses and use levels (1).

However, the risk of cumulative intake of aluminium, which may pose a danger to human health, cannot be excluded as this ingredient can be found in widely consumed food products such as bread, various bakery products (2).

• Molecular Formula   AlH₄NO₈S₂  
• Molecular Weight   237.15   
• CAS  7784-25-0
• UNII    DPU64XYB1D
• EC Number   232-055-3

References_____________________________________________________________________

(1) Wong, W.W., Chung, S.W., Kwong, K.P., Yin Ho, Y. and Xiao, Y., 2010. Dietary exposure to aluminium of the Hong Kong population. Food Additives and Contaminants, 27(4), pp.457-463.

(2) EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources added to Food (ANS); Younes M, Aggett P, Aguilar F, Crebelli R, Dusemund B, Filipič M, Frutos MJ, Galtier P, Gott D, Gundert-Remy U, Kuhnle GG, Lambré C, Leblanc JC, Lillegaard IT, Moldeus P, Mortensen A, Oskarsson A, Stankovic I, Waalkens-Berendsen I, Wright M, Di Domenico A, van Loveren H, Giarola A, Horvath Z, Lodi F, Tard A, Woutersen RA. Re-evaluation of aluminium sulphates (E 520-523) and sodium aluminium phosphate (E 541) as food additives. EFSA J. 2018 Jul 27;16(7):e05372. doi: 10.2903/j.efsa.2018.5372.