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Monosodium citrate

E331 · CAS 920537-27-5

Also registered as 2 other CAS numbers

1189691-15-3 · 18996-35-5

Monosodium citrate chemical structure

Concern score

Not assessed — no hazard data yet.

Monosodium citrate in plain language

What it is

Also known as Monosodium Citrate Anhydrous · 1,2,3-PROPANETRICARBOXYLIC acid, 2-HYDROXY-, monosodium salt · Monosodium salt citric acid · Citrofluyl · E-331(I) · Ins NO.331(I)

Show all 17 names

INS-331(I) · Monosodium citrate (anhydrous) · Sodium citrate monobasic · Sodium 3,4-dicarboxy-3-hydroxybutanoate · sodium;hydron;2-hydroxypropane-1,2,3-tricarboxylate · 2-Hydroxy-1,2,3-Propanetricarboxylic Acid, Monodium Salt · E 331I · Monosodium dihydrogen citrate · Sodium citrate (NaC6H7O7) · citric acid monosodium salt · sodium dihydrogen citrate

What it does

Used in cosmetics as a pH buffer.

  • Buffering
  • Chelating agent
  • pH adjuster
  • Fragrance
Is it a concern?
We haven't assessed a concern score for this ingredient yet. It is listed for cosmetic use in the EU.

As a food additive

E-number
E331
Used in food as
  • Acidity regulator
  • Emulsifying salt
  • Sequestrant
EU safety status

Authorised in the EU without a numerical limit (Group I); EFSA re-evaluation not yet published.

It never counts as an additive of concern in a product’s food rating.

Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II Part C(1) Group I (quantum satis)

Regulation

No restrictions found. Monosodium citrate appears in these published regulatory listings.

  • Inactive ingredient in US drugs

Recorded in these product areas

  • Found in consumer products
  • Cleaning
  • Industrial
  • USFDAinactive ingredient database6 entries
    • Route: ORAL; Dosage form: GRANULE, EFFERVESCENT; Potency: NASource →
    • Route: ORAL; Dosage form: POWDER, FOR SUSPENSION; Maximum daily exposure: 550 mgSource →
    • Route: ORAL; Dosage form: SUSPENSION; Maximum daily exposure: 275 mgSource →
    • Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET; Potency: 50 mgSource →
    • Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET, EFFERVESCENT; Maximum daily exposure: 1900 mgSource →
    • Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET, ORALLY DISINTEGRATING; Maximum daily exposure: 23 mgSource →
  • EUCosIngActiveListed in CosIng inventory for cosmetic use.
    • Listed in CosIng inventory for cosmetic use.Source →
  • USEPAcommercial use observedEPA CPDat observed this chemical in 19 composition records across product categories including Laboratory supplies, Cleaning products and household care, Vehicle. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including pH regulating agent, Fragrance, Processing aids not otherwise specified.
    • EPA CPDat observed this chemical in 19 composition records across product categories including Laboratory supplies, Cleaning products and household care, Vehicle. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including pH regulating agent, Fragrance, Processing aids not otherwise specified.Source →
  • USFDAlisted in openFDA substanceopenFDA substance registry classifies this ingredient as chemical.
    • openFDA substance registry classifies this ingredient as chemical.Source →

Expert safety opinions

No expert opinion on file for Monosodium citrate. These are the independent scientific bodies that assess ingredients like this one; we show an opinion only when a record we hold cites it.

  • 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.

Evidence & sources

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

7 data sources

Where this comes from

  • CosIng

    regulatory · updated 2026-09-23

    Open →

  • EPA Chemical and Products Database

    exposure · updated January 7, 2008

    Open →

  • EPA DSSTox Identifiers

    chemistry · updated 2025-12-29

    Open →

  • FDA Inactive Ingredient Database

    regulatory · updated 2026-01-09

    Open →

  • FDA GSRS UNII

    registry · updated 2026-02-26

    Open →

  • openFDA Substance

    registry · updated 2026-05-24

    Open →

  • PubChem Live Enrichment

    chemistry · updated 2026-05-17

    Open →

Suitability

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

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 EPA CPDat has listed Monosodium citrate in a product composition. These are source records, not Greenveil catalog products.

Source records

19

Named organisations

6

Laboratory suppliesCleaning products and household careVehicle

Typical roles

BufferingChelating agentpH adjusterFragrance
See products using Monosodium citrate →

Catalog

Found in these products

Cosmetic and personal-care products that list Monosodium citrate are shown first. Their ingredient lists include Monosodium citrate; each product's own rating depends on its whole formula, so it is shown on the product page, not here.

See all 21 →Find products without it →