Potassium acetate

E number E261INS 261(i)CAS 127-08-2

Used as a preservative — Codex also lists it as acidity regulator.

Potassium acetate is an acidity regulator and preservative used where a sodium-free alternative to sodium acetate is wanted.

Where it is and isn’t permitted

Status of Potassium acetate by jurisdiction. Every jurisdiction this site covers is listed, including those where the substance does not appear.
JurisdictionStatusScope and limitsCitation
United StatesFood and Drug AdministrationNot listedDoes not appear on this jurisdiction’s permitted list. That is not the same as being prohibited.
Codex AlimentariusCodex Alimentarius Commission / JECFAPermitted, with conditions

2 food categories

no numerical limit (good manufacturing practice)

Show every food category
  • 01.2.1.2 Fermented milks (plain), heat-treated after fermentation — GMP
  • 13.2 Complementary foods for infants and young children — GMP
CXS 192-1995 Table Three, INS 261(i)and 2 further provisionsretrieved 2026-09-07

What it is made from

Made by neutralising acetic acid with potassium carbonate or hydroxide.

  • Vegan
  • Vegetarian
CAS registry number
127-08-2
InChIKey
SCVFZCLFOSHCOH-UHFFFAOYSA-M
PubChem
CID 517044

Every name it appears under

38 recorded names. A label may use any of them.

E number

  • E261

INS number

  • 261(i)

CAS registry number

  • 127-08-2

Other names

  • Acetate, Potassium
  • Acetic acid (potassium 99%)
  • acetic acid potassium
  • ACETIC ACID, POTASSIUM SALT
  • Acetic acid, potassium salt (1:1)
  • AcOK
  • CAS-127-08-2
  • CH3COOK
  • Diuretic salt
  • E 261(i)
  • FEMA No. 2920
  • INS NO.261
  • INS-261
  • INS-261(I)
  • Kali aceticum
  • Kaliumazetat
  • KOAc
  • MeCO2K
  • Octan draselny
  • potasium acetate
  • potassium acetat
  • POTASSIUM ACETATE
  • Potassium acetate (JAN/USP)
  • Potassium Acetate ACS reagent
  • Potassium acetate crystalline powder,USP
  • Potassium acetate in plastic container
  • Potassium Acetate, biochemical grade
  • Potassium acetate, for molecular biology
  • Potassium acetate, meets analytical specification of Ph. Eur. BP E261
  • Potassium acetate, Trace metals grade 99.98%
  • Potassium acetate, United States Pharmacopeia (USP) Reference Standard
  • Potassium acetates
  • Potassium ethanoate
  • USP Solution Potassium Acetate TS Conforms to USP

Systematic names

  • potassium acetate

Hazard reference values

No reference value for this substance in the sources we hold.

Evidence and how bodies read it

Studies, and the differing conclusions regulators drew from them, are curated by hand rather than machine-read, and none has been written for this substance yet.

Sources for this page

  • gsfa retrieved 2026-09-07

Full licence terms and publisher details on Sources. How this page is built and updated: Method.

Machine-readable:/api/v1/additives/potassium-acetate.json