E500 - Sodium carbonates
By the Daat team · Updated October 30, 2026
E500 is baking soda. It makes cakes and biscuits rise.
It is one of the most harmless-looking numbers you will see on a label. In our catalog it is the fourth most common additive, and more than a third of its uses are in cakes, biscuits and crackers.
How common is it? 8.2% of the products we checked, 1,380 in all, led by cakes, biscuits and pastries and chocolate and sweets.
E500 at a glance
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Sodium carbonates |
| Also listed as | baking soda, sodium bicarbonate |
| Function | Raising agent |
| Origin | Plant, mineral or synthetic |
| Vegan / vegetarian | Yes / Yes |
Is E500 vegan?
Yes. E500 has no animal source, so it suits both vegans and vegetarians.