Magnesium Sulfate

Magnesium Sulfate carries a safety score of 3/5 and appears in 413 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 — Magnesium Sulfate highlighted.

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

Caramel Coloring22612Red 4021595Yellow 518987Carrageenan17853Blue 116643Yellow 613560Sucralose10490Magnesium Sulfate413
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, EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT, FORMULATION AID, LUBRICANT OR RELEASE AGENT, MALTING OR FERMENTING AID, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, PH CONTROL AGENT, PROCESSING AID, STABILIZER OR THICKENER

Safety Assessment

Magnesium 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

Magnesium Sulfate currently appears in 413 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, Magnesium Sulfate functions as a anticaking agent or free-flow agent, emulsifier or emulsifier salt, formulation aid, 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 Magnesium 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 Magnesium Sulfate
Source Classification Year
FDA SAFFA GRAS 2024
CSPI Chemical Cuisine Not rated 2024
PlainFoodSafe Score 3/5 2026
Product footprint 413 products OpenFoodFacts

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

Products Containing

Showing 50 of 413 products

#1 ionized alkaline water
Essentia
100/100
51 Fifty, Energy Drink, Fruit Punch
51 Fifty Energy
60/100
989 Ondemand, Enhanced Vitamin Beverage, Kiwi Strawberry
Herbal Mist Llc
100/100
989 Ondemand, Enhanced Vitamin Beverage, Lemon-Lime
Herbal Mist Llc
100/100
989 Ondemand, Enhanced Vitamin Beverage, Pomegranate Blueberry
Herbal Mist Llc
100/100
989 Ondemand, Enhanced Vitamin Beverage, Punch
Herbal Mist Llc
100/100
Absopure Plus
Absopure
100/100
Absopure+, Vapor Distilled Water
Absopure Water Company
100/100
Active hydration tablets
Unknown
85/100
Alka 65, Alkaline Water + Electrolytes
Nam Holdings
100/100
Alka65
Unknown
100/100
Alkaline
Trader Joe's
100/100
Alkaline & Electrolyte Water
Whole Foods Market
100/100
Alkaline & Electrolyte Water
365 Whole Foods Market
100/100
Alkaline purified water
Unknown
100/100
Alkaline water
Unknown
100/100
Alkaline water
Good & Gather
100/100
Alkaline water
Good & Gather
100/100
Alkaline water
Unknown
100/100
Alkaline water
Unknown
100/100
Alkaline water
Unknown
100/100
Alkaline Water
365 whole foods market
100/100
Alkaline water + electrolytes
Trader Joe's
100/100
Alkaline water + electrolytes
Unknown
100/100
Alkaline water + electrolytes
Alka Nix
100/100
Alkaline water + electrolytes purified drinking water
Unknown
100/100
Alkaline water pH
Unknown
100/100
Alkaline water plus electrolytes
Unknown
100/100
Alkaline water with electrolytes
Unknown
100/100
Alkaline water+electrolytes
Unknown
100/100
Alkaline+ water
Unknown
100/100
Alkaline+ water
Unknown
100/100
All-in-one nutritional shake
Unknown
100/100
Ancient grains bread
Unknown
100/100
Apple Fruity Water, Apple
Pure life
100/100
Artica, Alkaline Water With Electrolytes
Elizabeth Beverage Company Llc
100/100
Açaí Blueberry Pomegranate Flavored with other natural flavors Vitamin-enhanced Water Beverage
KIRKLAND Signature
70/100
Bananas & cream all-in-one nutritional shake
Unknown
100/100
Berry Blast
SUEROX
45/100
Berry Copa Crush
Messi
100/100
Berry Copa Crush
Mas+
100/100
Best choice, flavored sparkling water, coconut, coconut
White Rose Food Corp.
85/100
Big y, sparkling water, pineapple coconut, pineapple coconut
Big Y, Big Y Foods Inc.
35/100
Black Raspberry Water
Smart & Final Iris Corporation
75/100
Black raspbery
Unknown
60/100
Blackberry raspberry flavored sparkling water beverage
Unknown
60/100
Boost 530
Boost
100/100
Bubs
Bubs
100/100
Chicken & Beef Chunk In Gravy
Beefeaters
100/100
Chill
Food Town Stores Inc.
85/100

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Magnesium Sulfate safe to eat?

Magnesium 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 Magnesium Sulfate?

Magnesium Sulfate is found in 413 products in our database, spanning various food categories and brands.

What does Magnesium Sulfate do in food?

Magnesium Sulfate is used as a anticaking agent or free-flow agent, emulsifier or emulsifier salt, formulation aid, 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.