What is E327?
Complete guide to understanding calcium lactate in your food
The Quick Answer
E327 is calcium lactate, a white crystalline salt used as a firming agent in canned fruits and vegetables, a flavor enhancer, leavening agent in baked goods, and a source of supplemental calcium in foods.
It’s produced by neutralizing lactic acid (from fermentation of carbohydrates) with calcium carbonate or calcium hydroxide. Calcium lactate naturally occurs in aged cheeses, where it forms as small crystals during the ripening process.
Most people consuming canned fruits, vegetables, or baked goods regularly encounter small amounts of E327. It’s also found in calcium-fortified foods and dietary supplements.
📌 Quick Facts
- Category: Firming Agent, Flavor Enhancer, Leavening Agent & Stabilizer
- Found in: Canned produce, baked goods, fortified foods, supplements
- Safety: FDA GRAS-approved, EFSA-approved, naturally derived
- Approved by: FDA, EFSA, JECFA
- Key Fact: Natural origin (aged cheeses); provides nutritional calcium; NOT related to lactose
What Exactly Is E327?
E327 is calcium lactate, a white crystalline salt consisting of two lactate anions for each calcium cation, produced by neutralizing lactic acid with calcium carbonate or calcium hydroxide.
More specifically, the chemical formula is C6H10CaO6 (or the pentahydrate form C6H10CaO6·5H2O). Calcium lactate can exist in different forms: L-form (naturally occurring), D-form, or DL-form (racemic mixture). The L-isomer is the form naturally synthesized and metabolized by living organisms.
E327 naturally occurs in aged cheeses, where small crystals precipitate out as lactic acid bacteria convert it to a less soluble form during the ripening process. This long natural history in foods demonstrates its safety and palatability.
E327 is unique among lactate additives because it provides both the lactate function (firming, flavoring, preserving) and nutritional calcium (approximately 14% calcium content).
Where You’ll Find E327
E327 appears in numerous food categories requiring firming, flavoring, or calcium fortification:
– Canned fruits and vegetables
– Fresh-cut fruit products (cantaloupe, etc.)
– Baked goods (angel food cake, meringues, whipped toppings)
– Baking powders
– Calcium-fortified foods
– Dairy products and milk powders
– Cheese (naturally and as added ingredient)
– Infant weaning foods (restricted in infant formula)
– Sugar-free foods
– Chewing gum (especially with xylitol)
– Dietary supplements and medications
– Calcium supplements
If you eat canned vegetables or fruits, baked goods, or take calcium supplements, you’ve likely encountered E327.
💡 Pro Tip: Look for “Calcium lactate” or “E327” on ingredient lists. It’s most commonly found on canned fruit and vegetable labels, baking powder ingredients, and calcium supplement formulations.
How E327 Works in Food
E327 serves multiple functions depending on the food application.
As a firming agent: E327 keeps tissues of fruit and vegetables firm and crisp. It works by converting labile (unstable) pectin to less soluble calcium pectate, preventing structural collapse during cooking and canning. This is particularly valuable in canned vegetables, which would otherwise become soft and mushy.
As a leavening agent: E327 is used in baking powders and acts as a leavening agent by providing calcium to delay leavening and control the rise of baked goods. In angel food cakes and meringues, it increases protein extensibility, resulting in larger foam volume.
As a flavor enhancer: E327 adds mild, pleasant flavor to foods, enhancing overall taste profile without adding unwanted flavors.
As a stabilizer and thickener: E327 stabilizes food systems and thickens sauces and other products, maintaining texture consistency during storage.
As nutritional supplementation: E327 provides bioavailable calcium, making it valuable in calcium-fortified foods and supplements for treating calcium deficiency.
As dental health agent: E327 is added to sugar-free foods to prevent tooth decay and, when combined with xylitol in chewing gum, increases remineralization of tooth enamel.
Why Do Food Companies Use E327?
E327 is particularly valuable in preserving food texture and quality while providing nutritional calcium.
In canned fruits and vegetables, E327 prevents the mushiness that would otherwise result from cooking and storage. Companies can maintain the texture consumers expect—firm, crisp vegetables—while extending shelf life. In baked goods, it provides leavening control and texture enhancement. Most importantly for health-conscious companies, E327 provides nutritional calcium, allowing them to market “calcium-fortified” products with genuine nutritional benefit.
Is It Safe?
Regulatory authorities worldwide classify E327 as safe—with exceptional credibility given its natural occurrence in aged cheeses and long history of use.
The FDA classifies calcium lactate as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS). The EFSA has authorized it as a food additive under Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008. Its natural occurrence in cheeses demonstrates decades of safe human consumption.
✓ Safety Confirmed: The FDA classifies E327 as GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe). The EFSA approved it. Naturally occurs in aged cheeses. No adverse effects documented at food-use levels. Long history of safe use.
Safety Profile
E327 has an exceptionally well-established safety record:
– FDA status: Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS)
– EFSA approval: Authorized food additive
– Natural occurrence: Forms naturally in aged cheeses
– No documented toxicity: No adverse effects at approved food use levels
– Medical approval: Used therapeutically for calcium supplementation
– Long history: Naturally present in foods for centuries
Important Restriction: Not for Infants
E327 is NOT permitted in infant formula or infant/toddler foods, but IS permitted in weaning foods.
This restriction reflects that infants cannot digest lactic acid well in the first year of life. However, once babies begin eating weaning foods, lactates may be used for acidity regulation, indicating the restriction is developmental rather than indicating danger.
Medical and Pharmaceutical Uses
E327’s safety extends to therapeutic medical applications.
Calcium lactate is used medically to:
– Treat calcium deficiency
– Manage bone loss
– Treat poorly functioning parathyroid glands
– Support certain muscle disease treatment
– Serve as an antacid for acid reflux management
– Act as an antidote for soluble fluoride ingestion and hydrofluoric acid poisoning
The fact that E327 is used therapeutically in medicine demonstrates extraordinary safety—regulatory approval for medical use is more stringent than for food additive use.
How E327 Is Made
E327 is produced through simple, well-established chemical and fermentation processes.
Manufacturing methods:
1. Neutralization method: Lactic acid (produced by fermentation) is neutralized directly with calcium carbonate or calcium hydroxide, creating calcium lactate
2. Fermentation method: Carbohydrates are fermented directly in the presence of calcium mineral sources, producing calcium lactate directly
3. Crystallization: The product is purified and crystallized for food-grade purity
4. Result: White crystalline salt suitable for food use
Both methods are based on natural biochemical processes and produce identical, safe results.
Non-Food Applications
E327 has interesting applications beyond food:
Water treatment: E327 is being evaluated as a coagulant for removing suspended solids from water—a renewable, non-toxic, and biodegradable alternative to aluminum chloride.
Construction (bioconcrete): Addition of E327 substantially increases compressive strength and reduces water permeability by enabling specific bacteria to produce more calcite, creating stronger, more water-resistant concrete.
Vegan and Dietary Status
E327 is plant-based and suitable for most dietary approaches:
– Vegan-friendly ✓ – Produced from fermentation of plant carbohydrates
– Vegetarian ✓
– Plant-based ✓
– Natural ✓ – Naturally occurs in aged cheeses; typically produced from plant fermentation
– Gluten-free ✓
– NOT restricted for lactose intolerance ✓ – Despite name, contains no lactose; safe for lactose-intolerant individuals
– Kosher – Potentially, depending on certification
– Halal – Potentially, depending on certification
The Lactose Confusion Clarified
A critical point: E327 contains NO lactose and is completely unrelated to lactose.
Despite the name “calcium lactate” (derived from “lactic acid”), this compound contains no lactose (milk sugar) and is not chemically similar to lactose. It is completely safe for individuals with lactose intolerance. The confusion arises because “lactate” and “lactose” sound similar, but they are entirely different compounds.
Calcium Content and Bioavailability
E327 is a significant source of dietary calcium, though with important bioavailability considerations.
Calcium lactate contains approximately 14% calcium by weight. However, it’s important to note that E327 is less concentrated and less bioavailable than other forms of supplemental calcium (like calcium carbonate or calcium citrate). This means it’s not the most efficient oral calcium supplement, though it’s still useful as a food ingredient and in weaning foods.
For individuals relying on E327 for calcium supplementation, consuming adequate quantities or consuming multiple fortified products ensures meaningful calcium intake.
Related Lactate Additives
E327 is part of a family of lactate-based additives:
– E270: Lactic acid (base compound)
– E325: Sodium lactate – preservative, acidity regulator
– E326: Potassium lactate – preservative, acidity regulator
– E327: Calcium lactate – firming agent, nutritional supplement
– E328: Ammonium lactate – acidity regulator, antioxidant
– E329: Magnesium lactate – acidity regulator, antioxidant
E327 is unique in providing nutritional calcium alongside its food additive functions.
Regulatory Approval Across Regions
E327 is approved by all major regulatory authorities:
– United States (FDA): GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe)
– European Union (EFSA): Authorized per Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008
– International (JECFA/FAO/WHO): Approved
This near-universal approval reflects confidence in its safety across different regulatory systems.
The Bottom Line
E327 (calcium lactate) is a white crystalline salt used as a firming agent in canned fruits and vegetables, flavor enhancer in various foods, leavening agent in baked goods, and nutritional calcium source in fortified foods.
It’s produced through neutralizing lactic acid (from fermentation) with calcium salts—a simple, natural process.
Regulatory authorities worldwide classify E327 as safe. The FDA designates it as GRAS, and the EFSA approves it. It naturally occurs in aged cheeses, demonstrating long history of safe human consumption.
E327 contains approximately 14% calcium, providing genuine nutritional benefit in fortified foods and supplements (though less bioavailable than some other calcium forms).
E327 is plant-derived, vegan-friendly, gluten-free, and NOT related to lactose despite the name similarity.
Special restriction: NOT permitted in infant formula or infant/toddler foods, but permitted in weaning foods—a developmental restriction reflecting infants’ limited lactic acid digestion capacity.
Medical uses for calcium supplementation and acid reflux management demonstrate exceptional safety profile.
Most people consuming canned fruits, vegetables, or calcium-fortified foods encounter E327 regularly without any documented health concerns.
