Safe
E516 — Calcium sulphate
Firming agent
E516 (Calcium sulphate), a firming agent, is rated "safe": no significant concern. Food-grade gypsum. The traditional tofu coagulant. Also used as a firming agent, dough conditioner, and calcium source.
What is Calcium sulphate?
Food-grade gypsum. The traditional coagulant for tofu (especially silken tofu), and also used in some breads, cottage cheese, baking, and brewing.
What does it do to the body?
Provides calcium your body uses normally. Mostly insoluble, so absorption is moderate. No realistic safety concern at food levels.
What regulators say
EFSA and the FDA both treat it as a safe additive with no numerical acceptable daily intake.
Risk rating: Safe
Cleared by EFSA with no significant concern at typical dietary exposure. Common, well-studied, and not a reason to put a product back on the shelf.
Frequently asked questions
Is E516 (Calcium sulphate) safe?
EFSA and the FDA both treat it as a safe additive with no numerical acceptable daily intake.
What is E516 (Calcium sulphate)?
Food-grade gypsum. The traditional coagulant for tofu (especially silken tofu), and also used in some breads, cottage cheese, baking, and brewing.
What does Calcium sulphate do to the body?
Provides calcium your body uses normally. Mostly insoluble, so absorption is moderate. No realistic safety concern at food levels.
What are other names for E516?
E516 is also known as calcium sulphate, calcium sulfate, gypsum.