Calcium Sulfate

Calcium Sulfate carries a safety score of 3/5 and appears in 9,229 indexed US food products.

Safety score 60.0%

3/5 from FDA SAFFA + CSPI Chemical Cuisine

How common is vs other flagged additives?

Number of indexed products containing each of the most common flagged additives — Calcium Sulfate highlighted.

Indexed products containing each flagged additive. Source: Open Food Facts ingredient lists × FDA SAFFA × CSPI Chemical Cuisine.

Caramel Coloring22612Red 4021595Yellow 518987Carrageenan17853Blue 116643Yellow 613560Sucralose10490Calcium Sulfate9229
Indexed products containing each flagged additive. Source: Open Food Facts ingredient lists × FDA SAFFA × CSPI Chemical Cuisine.
FDA Status
GRAS
Safety Score
3/5

Function

ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT, DRYING AGENT, FORMULATION AID, LEAVENING AGENT, LUBRICANT OR RELEASE AGENT, MALTING OR FERMENTING AID, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, PH CONTROL AGENT, PROCESSING AID, STABILIZER OR THICKENER

Safety Assessment

Calcium Sulfate has a moderate safety profile (3/5). While approved for use, some studies or consumer advocacy groups have raised questions about certain aspects of this ingredient. Consumers who prefer caution may wish to limit intake.

What the Data Says About

Calcium Sulfate currently appears in 9,229 products across the OpenFoodFacts catalog we index, which gives a concrete measure of its footprint on US grocery shelves. Our internal safety score of 3/5 synthesizes FDA Substances Added to Food (SAFFA) regulatory status — currently "GRAS" — with the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) Chemical Cuisine classification. These two frameworks capture different questions: regulators ask whether exposure at typical intake is acceptable, while consumer-advocacy groups examine cumulative dietary load and vulnerable-population risk.

In food manufacturing, Calcium Sulfate functions as a anticaking agent or free-flow agent, drying agent, formulation aid, leavening agent, lubricant or release agent, malting or fermenting aid, nutrient supplement, ph control agent, processing aid, stabilizer or thickener. That technical role explains why it recurs across many product categories — formulators select specific additives for stability, shelf life, color, or texture performance, and substitution is rarely a one-for-one swap when regulations or consumer preferences shift. Inspection and outbreak data often trace back to breakdown in the control of exactly these kinds of functional ingredients, either through contaminated batches, undisclosed substitutions, or labeling errors that trigger FDA-initiated recalls.

No specific concern flags are attached to Calcium Sulfate in our current data snapshot beyond the regulatory and CSPI classifications above. That does not rule out individual sensitivity reactions, and anyone managing allergies, elimination diets, or chronic conditions should verify with a qualified healthcare professional before relying on population-level ratings.

Safety Profile at a Glance

Regulatory and safety classifications for Calcium Sulfate
Source Classification Year
FDA SAFFA GRAS 2024
CSPI Chemical Cuisine Not rated 2024
PlainFoodSafe Score 3/5 2026
Product footprint 9,229 products OpenFoodFacts

FDA SAFFA database, CSPI Chemical Cuisine ratings, OpenFoodFacts product index. See methodology.

Products Containing

Showing 50 of 9,229 products

#1 ham & pepperoni
Unknown
50/100
0287226703490
Unknown
100/100
1% Lowfat Cultured Buttermilk
Spartan
90/100
1/2 Loaf
Baby Bunny
100/100
1/2 Loaf Butter White
Franz
100/100
1/2" stub wheat pullman bread
Unknown
95/100
10 Flour Tortillas
Schnucks
100/100
100% beef burger
Unknown
50/100
100% farmer owned
Unknown
90/100
100% light whole wheat
Nature's Harvest
100/100
100% natural brown sugar soft bagels
Aunt Millie's, Aunt Millie's Bakeries
100/100
100% Natural Flavor Ice Cream
Market Basket Inc.
90/100
100% natural honey multi-grain sliced soft bagels
Unknown
100/100
100% natural white with whole grain soft bagels
Unknown
100/100
100% Stone Ground Wheat Bread
Shaw's
100/100
100% Wheat Bread
Baker's Choice
100/100
100% Wheat Bread
Holsum
100/100
100% Wheat Enriched Bread
Town Talk
100/100
100% While What Bread No Salt Added
Signature Select
100/100
100% White Wheat Split Top Dinner Rolls
Schmidt Baking Co
100/100
100% whole grain bread
Unknown
100/100
100% Whole Grain Bread
Nature's Own
100/100
100% whole grain bread
Brownberry
100/100
100% Whole Grain Bread
Unknown
100/100
100% whole grain bread, whole grain
Flowers Foods Inc.
100/100
100% Whole Grain White Bread
Aunt Millie's, Aunt Millie's Bakeries
95/100
100% Whole Wheat
Lewis Bakeries Inc.
100/100
100% whole wheat & honey oregon trail bread, whole wheat & honey
Unknown
100/100
100% Whole Wheat 6 Sliced English Muffins
Oroweat
100/100
100% Whole Wheat Bagels
Schmidt
85/100
100% whole wheat bread
Unknown
100/100
100% whole wheat bread
Giant Eagle
100/100
100% whole wheat bread
Perfection Bakeries Inc.
100/100
100% whole wheat bread
Van de Kamps
100/100
100% Whole Wheat Bread
Foodtown
100/100
100% whole wheat bread
Unknown
100/100
100% whole wheat bread
Unknown
100/100
100% whole wheat bread
Unknown
100/100
100% whole wheat bread
Lewis Bakeries Inc.
100/100
100% whole wheat bread
Tortilla King Inc.
100/100
100% whole wheat bread
Unknown
100/100
100% whole wheat bread
Unknown
100/100
100% whole wheat bread
Unknown
100/100
100% whole wheat bread
Unknown
100/100
100% whole wheat bread
Unknown
100/100
100% whole wheat bread
Unknown
100/100
100% whole wheat bread
Unknown
100/100
100% whole wheat bread
Unknown
100/100
100% whole wheat bread
L'oven Fresh
100/100
100% whole wheat bread
L'Oven Fresh
100/100

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Calcium Sulfate safe to eat?

Calcium Sulfate has a safety score of 3/5. FDA status: GRAS. Always check with a healthcare provider if you have specific dietary concerns.

What products contain Calcium Sulfate?

Calcium Sulfate is found in 9,229 products in our database, spanning various food categories and brands.

What does Calcium Sulfate do in food?

Calcium Sulfate is used as a anticaking agent or free-flow agent, drying agent, formulation aid, leavening agent, lubricant or release agent, malting or fermenting aid, nutrient supplement, ph control agent, processing aid, stabilizer or thickener in food products.

Where does this ingredient safety data come from?

Safety data comes from the FDA's SAFFA (Substances Added to Food) database, CSPI (Center for Science in the Public Interest) ratings, and the OpenFoodFacts product database. Product counts reflect items cataloged in OpenFoodFacts.