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Alum

Image: Open Food Facts (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Common questions

Is Alum healthy?

Alum scores 75/100 on Scout's independent analysis of ingredients, additives, and lab results — a fair-to-good score — solid, with tradeoffs. Alum is a processed culinary ingredient with a single, straightforward component, which contributes to its relatively high score.

How processed is Alum?

Alum is NOVA Group 2: Processed Culinary Ingredients.

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Alum

McCormick
75 Good

Analysis updated September 2026 · How Scout scores

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At a glance

Beneficial ingredients 0
Harmful ingredients 0
Owned by Unilever
Category Condiments
Summary

Alum is a processed culinary ingredient with a single, straightforward component, which contributes to its relatively high score. The product's simplicity and lack of harmful additives or artificial ingredients are positive factors, although its processing level prevents it from reaching the highest possible rating.

Key ingredients 1

Alum
Neutral

Alum is a compound used primarily as a food additive and preservative. It is often used in pickling and baking to maintain crispness and texture. While it is generally recognized as safe in small amounts, excessive consumption can lead to health concerns.

Risks

Excessive consumption of alum can lead to gastrointestinal irritation and other health issues.

Benefits

Alum helps maintain the texture and crispness of pickled foods and can act as a leavening agent in baking.

Processing

Group 2 · Culinary ingredients

Processed Culinary Ingredients

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