INS 500(ii) is sodium bicarbonate, the same compound as the baking soda in your kitchen. On packs it is used as a raising agent that releases carbon dioxide when heated, making baked goods rise. It is generally vegan and is permitted by FSSAI for specified food categories.
INS 500(ii) is sodium bicarbonate, the same compound as the baking soda in your kitchen. On packs it is used as a raising agent that releases carbon dioxide when heated, making baked goods rise.
Brands use it because it gives a quick, reliable rise to biscuits, cakes, and pancakes. It also acts as a buffer that controls acidity in some processed foods and is the active ingredient behind effervescent fizz in cold drinks and antacid tablets.
INS 500(ii) commonly shows up on Indian packets in these categories:
Sodium bicarbonate is produced by reacting sodium carbonate with carbon dioxide and water. No animal product is used in its manufacture.
FSSAI: Permitted by FSSAI as a raising agent and acidity regulator under Schedule I of the FSS (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations 2011 for specified food categories with category-specific limits.
JECFA: ADI 'not specified' for sodium bicarbonate, the modern equivalent meaning JECFA considers normal dietary intake unproblematic. The same compound is widely used as an antacid and is a normal constituent of body chemistry.
On packets, in recipes, and in conversation, INS 500(ii) is also called:
Last verified: 2026-04-29.