INS 300 is the code for ascorbic acid
Stops oxidation - browning in fruit products, rancidity in fats - and strengthens dough. It is vitamin C, though the amount added is usually small.
- What it does
- Stops fat going rancid An antioxidant
- Also printed as
- Vitamin C · L-Ascorbic acid
- Vegetarian?
- Depends on the maker Source not stated on the label
- In the Zabel score
- Takes no points off Method 1.0.0
- In our catalogue
- 194 packs List it in their ingredients
Is INS 300 vegetarian?
It depends on the maker. INS 300 can be made from plant or animal sources and the label does not say which, so the code tells you nothing either way. The green or brown mark on the pack is the declaration to go by.
| Food category | Share | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Bread and buns | 40% | |
| Fruit juices and nectars | 18% | |
| Carbonated soft drinks | 13% | |
| Other beverages | 10% | |
| Cakes, rusk and pastries | 3% | |
| Everything else | 16% |
Counted from the 194 packs in Zabel's catalogue that list INS 300, 177 of which have a food category so far. Counted 4 Nov 2026.
What does the evidence say about INS 300?
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. One interaction is worth knowing: in a drink that also contains benzoate (INS 211) and is stored warm, ascorbic acid can take part in forming small amounts of benzene.
Does Zabel mark INS 300 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 300?
INS 300 is the code for ascorbic acid, an antioxidant. Stops oxidation - browning in fruit products, rancidity in fats - and strengthens dough. It is vitamin C, though the amount added is usually small.
Is INS 300 vegetarian?
It depends on the maker. INS 300 can be made from plant or animal sources and the label does not say which, so the code tells you nothing either way. The green or brown mark on the pack is the declaration to go by.
What does the evidence say about INS 300?
No numerical limit and no identified concern at food levels. One interaction is worth knowing: in a drink that also contains benzoate (INS 211) and is stored warm, ascorbic acid can take part in forming small amounts of benzene.
Does Zabel mark INS 300 down?
No. On the evidence we hold it takes nothing off the score (method 1.0.0).
What other names is INS 300 printed under?
Packs also print it as Vitamin C and L-Ascorbic acid, or as the bare number 300 in brackets after the ingredient.
Sources
- 01 Evaluations of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) WHO / FAO, 2024
- 02 Re-evaluation of benzoic acid (E 210) and its salts as food additives EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources, 2016
- 03 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.