By Jeanne Yacoubou
The Vegetarian Resource Group Research Director

Alternate names: calcium dichloride, E509
Commercial source: mineral
Used in: canned fruits and vegetables, canned beans, pickles,
confections, tofu, sports drinks, soft drinks, beer, certain dairy cheeses
Used for: firming, coagulating, sequestering (in foods); replacing
electrolytes (in beverages)
Definition: Besides several major industrial uses (deicing roads,
oil/gas well drilling) calcium chloride is most often used in foods to
keep them firm or in beverages to establish mineral balance.
Manufacturers:
Occidental Chemical Corporation told us by email that no “animal
products or animal by-products” are in their calcium chloride.
http://www.oxy.com/OurBusinesses/Chemicals/Products/Pages/CalciumChloride.aspx
TETRA Technologies, Inc. wrote to us that their calcium chloride is
“…not derived from animal content.”
http://www.tetrachemicals.com/Products/Calcium_Chloride/Liquid_Calcium_Chloride/FCC_Food_Grade.aqf
FBC Industries, Inc. wrote that their calcium chloride is not
animal-derived but from a “natural brine source.”
http://www.fbcindustries.com/Calcium_Chloride.aspx
Coalescentrum Inc. states that there is “…no animal ingredient in the
product itself nor in the manufacturing process.”
http://www.coalescentrum.com/index_files/Page604.htm
Classification: Vegan
Entry added: April 2014

The contents of this article, our website, and our other publications,
including The Vegetarian Journal, are not intended to provide personal
medical advice. Medical advice should be obtained from a qualified
health professional. We often depend on product and ingredient
information from company employees or company statements. Information
does change and mistakes are always possible. Please use your own best
judgment about whether a product is suitable for you. Further research
or confirmation may be warranted.

For additional ingredient information, visit
http://www.vrg.org/ingredients/index.php