Additives · Firming agent

Potassium aluminum sulfate (E522)

Alum, used in some pickles and baking powders.

Where it's restricted

What each rule says, with sources

• ✓ US (FDA): Allowed FDA lists it as generally recognized as safe. Source
• ✓ EU: Allowed On the EU's list of approved additives as E522. For limited uses. (Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008) Source
• ! Texas: Warning label required from 2027-01-01 Labels developed on or after January 1, 2027 must warn that the product contains an ingredient not recommended for consumption in Australia, Canada, the EU or the UK. (SB 25 (2025)) Source
• ! Louisiana: Warning label required from 2028-01-01 Products containing it must carry a QR code disclosure from January 1, 2028. (SB 14, Act 463 (2025)) Source

Also listed on labels as: Potassium Alum, Aluminum Potassium Sulfate.

Products that list it

12 products in USDA's label data name Potassium aluminum sulfate in their ingredients.

• Red Bean Baked Cake, Red Bean Waraku · Cakes, Cupcakes, Snack Cakes
• Ikaten Daio Tempura Squid Snack Maruesu · Fish & Seafood
• Crispy Oven-ready Tempura Shrimp Legal Sea Foods · Frozen Fish & Seafood
• Bread & Butter Salty Dill Pickles Stamey's · Pickles, Olives, Peppers & Relishes
• Taiyo, Baumkuchen Baked Wheat Cake Taiyo · Cakes, Cupcakes, Snack Cakes
• Dorayaki Baked Red Bean Cake, Chestnut Waraku · Cakes, Cupcakes, Snack Cakes
• Bread & Butter Pickles, Bread & Butter Harding's · Pickles, Olives, Peppers & Relishes
• Bayou BBQ Cajun Sauce, Bayou BBQ Cajun Frog Bone · Ketchup, Mustard, BBQ & Cheese Sauce
• Tuna Salad On Wheat Sandwich, Tuna Salad Brown Bag Sandwich Co. · Prepared Subs & Sandwiches
• Spicy Tuna Salad On Dark Wheat Sandwich, Spicy Tuna Salad Brown Bag Sandwich Co. · Prepared Subs & Sandwiches
• Original Pickle & Pimiento Loaf, Original Pickle & Pimiento Oscar Mayer · Pepperoni, Salami & Cold Cuts
• Southern Style White Meat Chicken Salad, Southern Style White Meat Chicken Freshness Guaranteed · Deli Salads