INS 170 is the code for calcium carbonate
Stops powders caking, firms up canned vegetables, whitens, and fortifies foods with calcium.
- What it does
- Stops it clumping An anti-caking agent
- Also printed as
- Chalk
- Vegetarian?
- Vegetarian From minerals
- In the Zabel score
- Takes no points off Method 1.0.0
- In our catalogue
- 85 packs List it in their ingredients
Is INS 170 vegetarian?
INS 170 is from minerals, so it does not by itself make a food non-vegetarian. The green or brown mark on the pack is still the declaration to go by, because it covers every other ingredient too.
| Food category | Share | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Bread and buns | 32% | |
| Noodles and pasta | 21% | |
| Breakfast cereals | 16% | |
| Chips and crisps | 9% | |
| Biscuits and cookies | 7% | |
| Everything else | 15% |
Counted from the 85 packs in Zabel's catalogue that list INS 170, 75 of which have a food category so far. Counted 4 Nov 2026.
What does the evidence say about INS 170?
We grade an additive by the evidence about it, not by whether it sounds like a chemical, and we make no claim about whether a pack complies with FSSAI rules.
No numerical limit and no identified concern at food levels. It is the same compound used as a calcium supplement.
Does Zabel mark INS 170 down?
No. On the evidence we hold it takes nothing off the score (method 1.0.0). Read the method.
Questions people search
What is INS 170?
INS 170 is the code for calcium carbonate, an anti-caking agent. Stops powders caking, firms up canned vegetables, whitens, and fortifies foods with calcium.
Is INS 170 vegetarian?
INS 170 is from minerals, so it does not by itself make a food non-vegetarian. The green or brown mark on the pack is still the declaration to go by, because it covers every other ingredient too.
What does the evidence say about INS 170?
No numerical limit and no identified concern at food levels. It is the same compound used as a calcium supplement.
Does Zabel mark INS 170 down?
No. On the evidence we hold it takes nothing off the score (method 1.0.0).
What other names is INS 170 printed under?
Packs also print it as Chalk, or as the bare number 170 in brackets after the ingredient.
Sources
- 01 Evaluations of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) WHO / FAO, 2024
- 02 Zabel catalogue - pack counts, food categories and the codes printed alongside 4 Nov 2026
Entry updated 19 Sep 2026 · Not reviewed by a dietitian yet · Report an error on this page
Point the camera at the pack.
Zabel reads every INS code on it, shows the score, and shows the working.