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Sodium alginate

CAS 9005-40-7 · 40/100 · High conf.

Also registered as 14 other CAS numbers

12772-46-2 · 32129-82-1 · 32197-42-5 · 50643-02-2 · 56940-21-7 · 56940-22-8 · 63278-91-1 · 75635-14-2 · 77030-65-0 · 81989-21-1 · 496956-52-6 · 1262215-37-1 · 9005-38-3 · 57606-04-9

Concern score

40/100Moderate concern based on regulatory listings.
High confidence

Sodium alginate in plain language

What it is

On cosmetic ingredient lists it appears as “Algin”.

Also known as Algin · Sodium salt alginic acid · Sodium alginate 2200-3000 · Algin (Laminaria spp. and other kelps) · Algin ML · Algin gum

Show all 18 names

Alginate DPB · Alginate FD 155 · Alginate FD 170 · Alginate FD 175 · Alginate de sodium · E-401 · Hydagen 558 p · Ins NO.401 · INS-401 · alginate · natrii alginas · NTX-1 component sodium alginate

What it does

Used in cosmetics as a binder, a thickener and a fragrance ingredient.

  • Binding
  • Viscosity controlling
  • Fragrance
  • Thickener, emulsifier, gelling agent, stabilizer
  • Emulsifier
  • Surfactant
Is it a concern?
Moderate concern: no hazard classifications on record. It is listed for cosmetic use in the EU.

Why it's flagged

EPA CPDat observed this chemical in 0 composition records across product categories including unclassified products.

The score describes this ingredient's chemical identity — its hazard profile from published classifications and regulatory status — not the safety of any product it appears in.

Regulation

No restrictions found. Sodium alginate appears in these published regulatory listings.

  • In marketed US drugs
  • Inactive ingredient in US drugs

Recorded in these product areas

  • Found in consumer products
  • Beauty
  • Cleaning
  • Industrial
  • USFDAinactive ingredient database8 entries — 2 administration routes
    • Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET; Maximum daily exposure: 480 mgSource →
    • Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET, EXTENDED RELEASE; Maximum daily exposure: 627 mgSource →
    • Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TROCHE; Maximum daily exposure: 525 mgSource →
    • Route: TOPICAL; Dosage form: LIQUID; Potency: 0.25 %w/wSource →
    • Route: ORAL; Dosage form: SUSPENSION; Maximum daily exposure: 49 mgSource →
    • Route: ORAL; Dosage form: LOZENGE; Maximum daily exposure: 1274 mgSource →
    • Route: ORAL; Dosage form: CAPSULE; Maximum daily exposure: 160 mgSource →
    • Route: ORAL; Dosage form: SYRUP; Potency: 3 mg/1mlSource →
  • EUEFSAEFSA opinion3 entries
    • Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of sodium alginate for all animal species (ALGAIA) (EFSA FEEDAP)Source →
    • Safety and efficacy of sodium and potassium alginate for pets, other non food-producing animals and fish (EFSA FEEDAP)Source →
    • Re-evaluation of alginic acid and its sodium, potassium, ammonium and calcium salts (E 400-E 404) as food additives (EFSA ANS)Source →
  • USEPAcommercial use observed2 entries
    • EPA CPDat observed this chemical in 72 composition records across product categories including Personal care, Raw materials. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Viscosity modifier, Binder, Fragrance.Source →
    • EPA CPDat observed this chemical in 0 composition records across product categories including unclassified products.Source →
  • EUCosIngActiveListed in CosIng inventory for cosmetic use.
    • Listed in CosIng inventory for cosmetic use.Source →
  • GLOBALJECFANOT SPECIFIEDJECFA evaluation lists ADI NOT SPECIFIED. Functional class: thickener, emulsifier, gelling agent, stabilizer.
    • JECFA evaluation lists ADI NOT SPECIFIED. Functional class: thickener, emulsifier, gelling agent, stabilizer.Source →
  • USFDAlisted in openFDA substanceopenFDA substance registry classifies this ingredient as polymer.
    • openFDA substance registry classifies this ingredient as polymer.Source →
  • USFDAmarketed drug occurrenceFDA NDC lists this ingredient in 1 active drug products and 1 total products.
    • FDA NDC lists this ingredient in 1 active drug products and 1 total products.Source →

Expert safety opinions

Independent scientific assessments cited by the records we hold, with the year and link where the record gives one.

  • SCCS

    EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety

    No SCCS opinion on file.

  • CIR

    Cosmetic Ingredient Review (US expert panel)

    No CIR safety assessment on file.

  • EFSA

    European Food Safety Authority

    • Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of sodium alginate for all animal species (ALGAIA) (EFSA FEEDAP)

      2022 · EU EFSA listing · Read the source →

    • Safety and efficacy of sodium and potassium alginate for pets, other non food-producing animals and fish (EFSA FEEDAP)

      2017 · EU EFSA listing · Read the source →

    • Re-evaluation of alginic acid and its sodium, potassium, ammonium and calcium salts (E 400-E 404) as food additives (EFSA ANS)

      2017 · EU EFSA listing · Read the source →

  • JECFA

    Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives

    • JECFA evaluation lists ADI NOT SPECIFIED. Functional class: thickener, emulsifier, gelling agent, stabilizer.

      Year not recorded · GLOBAL JECFA listing · Read the source →

Evidence & sources

No graded research studies for Sodium alginate yet. This record is compiled from the published data sources below — registries and regulatory listings, not study findings.

9 data sources

Where this comes from

  • CosIng

    regulatory · updated 2026-09-23

    Open →

  • EFSA OpenFoodTox

    regulatory · updated 2026-10-04

    Open →

  • EPA Chemical and Products Database

    exposure · updated 2019-03-06

    Open →

  • EPA DSSTox Identifiers

    chemistry · updated 2025-12-29

    Open →

  • FDA Inactive Ingredient Database

    regulatory · updated 2026-01-09

    Open →

  • FDA National Drug Code Directory

    regulatory · updated 2026-12-31

    Open →

  • FDA GSRS UNII

    registry · updated 2026-02-26

    Open →

  • WHO JECFA Database

    regulatory · updated 2026-10-04

    Open →

  • openFDA Substance

    registry · updated 2026-05-24

    Open →
Reference links (1)
Openfda substance

codexalimentarius.net

Read →

Suitability

Context-specific fit derived from published classifications and the current ingredient evidence profile.

Food use

Food-use source coverage is present in the current record.

Good fit

The ingredient appears in food-oriented source coverage or allowed-use references, which makes food use easier to support than a context with no domain signal at all.

Fragrance avoidance

Not a strong fit for fragrance avoidance because it carries Fragrance.

Avoid

The ingredient itself is a fragrance-linked signal, so it is better treated as an avoid case when fragrance exposure is the main concern.

Where it has been recorded

How often FDA National Drug Code directory has listed Sodium alginate in a product composition. These are source records, not Greenveil catalog products.

Source records

1

Typical roles

BindingViscosity controllingFragranceThickener, emulsifier, gelling agent, stabilizerEmulsifierSurfactant
See products using Sodium alginate →

Catalog

Found in these products

Their ingredient lists include Sodium alginate; each product's own rating depends on its whole formula, so it is shown on the product page, not here.

See all 203 →Find products without it →

Co-occurrence

Often appears with

Ingredients that frequently appear alongside Sodium alginate in the catalog.