INS 503 is the code for ammonium carbonates
A raising agent for thin, crisp biscuits - it breaks down completely into gas, leaving nothing behind and no sodium.
- What it does
- Makes it rise A raising agent
- Also printed as
- Ammonium bicarbonate · Baker's ammonia
- Vegetarian?
- Vegetarian From minerals
- In the Zabel score
- Takes no points off Method 1.0.0
- In our catalogue
- 253 packs List it in their ingredients
Is INS 503 vegetarian?
INS 503 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Biscuits and cookies | 88% | |
| Ice cream and frozen desserts | 4% | |
| Namkeen and savoury snacks | 3% | |
| Other snacks | 2% | |
| Chocolate | 1% | |
| Everything else | 3% |
Counted from the 253 packs in Zabel's catalogue that list INS 503, 235 of which have a food category so far. Counted 4 Nov 2026.
What does the evidence say about INS 503?
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 used instead of baking soda precisely because it leaves no residual salt.
Does Zabel mark INS 503 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 503?
INS 503 is the code for ammonium carbonates, a raising agent. A raising agent for thin, crisp biscuits - it breaks down completely into gas, leaving nothing behind and no sodium.
Is INS 503 vegetarian?
INS 503 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 503?
No numerical limit and no identified concern at food levels. It is used instead of baking soda precisely because it leaves no residual salt.
Does Zabel mark INS 503 down?
No. On the evidence we hold it takes nothing off the score (method 1.0.0).
What other names is INS 503 printed under?
Packs also print it as Ammonium bicarbonate and Baker's ammonia, or as the bare number 503 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
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