With potassium chloride being used in food products, there have been several key questions that need to be addressed. In this Frequently Asked Questions slideshow, we provide answers to the key questions that we most often hear.

1. Potassium
Chloride & Food!
Frequently Asked Questions!
Potassium Chloride Product FAQ!
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© 2013 Cargill, Incorporated. All rights reserved.

2. What is potassium chloride? !
ANSWER: !
• Potassium chloride is a common, naturally occurring mineral.!
• It is typically extracted from the ground via traditional subsurface mining
techniques and solution mining. Solution mining consists of injecting
water into the ground where potassium chloride deposits exist, the water
dissolves the potassium chloride and the saturated brine is pumped back
to the surface where the water is cooled leaving the potassium chloride
behind.!
• Potassium chloride may also be extracted from salt lakes or seas, in a
similar process that is used to produce some sea salts.!
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Potassium Chloride Product FAQ!
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© 2013 Cargill, Incorporated. All rights reserved.

3. Is potassium chloride safe to eat? !
ANSWER: !
• Yes. Potassium chloride has been affirmed as Generally Recognized As
Safe (GRAS) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a
multipurpose ingredient in foods with no limitation other than current
good manufacturing practice (cGMP), which means food manufacturers
can use it at levels necessary to achieve its intended technological effect
in a food product. !
Source: Title 21, Part 184—Direct food substances affirmed as generally recognized as safe, Subpart B—Listing of specific substances affirmed as GRAS, Section 184.1622 Potassium chloride of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). Available from: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr=184.1622&SearchTerm=potassium%20chloride. !
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Potassium Chloride Product FAQ!
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© 2013 Cargill, Incorporated. All rights reserved.

4. Product Application:!
Snack Foods,
Such as Chips!
Ingredients:!
POTATOES, COTTONSEED OIL,
SALT AND POTASSIUM
CHLORIDE. !
Potassium Chloride Product FAQ!
www.cargillsaltinperspective.com!
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© 2013 Cargill, Incorporated. All rights reserved.
© 2013 Cargill, Incorporated. All rights reserved.!

5. Is potassium chloride
harmful to me? !
ANSWER: !
• The safety of oral consumption of potassium chloride is supported by its
long history of use in foods, and its regulatory acceptance for food use in
the U.S. and by numerous international scientific bodies and regulatory
authorities. !
• The acceptable daily intake (ADI) for chloride salts (including potassium
chloride) is “not limited,” which is indicative of their very low toxicity to
humans. !
Source: JECFA. 1980. Evaluation of certain food additives—Chloride: Ammonium, magnesium, potassium. Twenty-third Report of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee
on Food Additives (JECFA); WHO Technical Report Series (TRS) No. 648, Rome/WHO, Geneva. Available from: http://whqlibdoc.who.int/trs/WHO_TRS_648.pdf. !
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Potassium Chloride Product FAQ!
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© 2013 Cargill, Incorporated. All rights reserved.

6. Product Application:!
Meat!
Ingredients:!
PORK BACON CURED WITH
WATER, SALT, POTASSIUM
CHLORIDE, SODIUM
PHOSPHATE, SODIUM
ERYTHORBATE, AND SODIUM
NITRATE.!
Potassium Chloride Product FAQ!
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© 2013 Cargill, Incorporated. All rights reserved.
© 2013 Cargill, Incorporated. All rights reserved.!

7. Is there a recommended intake level
for potassium chloride? !
ANSWER: !
• Potassium chloride is absorbed into the body in the form of its constituent ions: potassium
and chloride. According to the Institute of Medicine (IOM), dietary consumption of potassium
at the adequate intake (AI) level of 4.7 g/day (for all adults) should maintain lower blood
pressure levels, reduce the adverse effects of sodium chloride intake on blood pressure,
reduce the risk of recurrent kidney stones, and possibly decrease bone loss. !
• At present, dietary intake of potassium by all groups in the U.S. and Canada is considerably
lower than the AI, with adult women consuming approximately only half of the AI (2.2-2.6 g/
day) and men consuming moderately higher than women (2.8-3.4 g/day). This includes all
sources of potassium from foods (i.e., naturally occurring or added ingredient). Thus, the U.S.
Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend an
increase in the intake of foods that provide potassium, among other nutrients. !
Source: IOM. 2005. Chapter 5 – Potassium. In: Dietary Reference Intakes for Water, Potassium, Sodium, Chloride, and Sulfate. Panel on Dietary Reference
Intakes for Electrolytes and Water, Standing Committee on the Scientific Evaluation of Dietary Reference Intakes, Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine
(IOM). National Academy of Sciences (NAS), pp. 186-268. Available from: http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=10925.!
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Potassium Chloride Product FAQ!
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© 2013 Cargill, Incorporated. All rights reserved.

8. What happens if I exceed recommended
intake levels for potassium chloride? !
ANSWER: !
• In the generally healthy population with normal kidney function, intake of
excess potassium from foods (e.g., above the AI) is not of concern
because it is readily excreted in the urine. !
• However, individuals who have special medical conditions associated
with impaired urinary excretion of potassium (e.g., diabetes, renal failure,
severe heart failure, etc.) or undergoing specific therapeutic regimens
(e.g., certain drugs, dietary restrictions, etc.) should consult with their
healthcare professional prior to consuming any foods containing
potassium chloride. !
Source: USDA. 2010. Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010. U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Available from:
http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/dga2010/DietaryGuidelines2010.pdf. !
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Potassium Chloride Product FAQ!
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9. Product Application:!
Soup!
Ingredients:!
CHICKEN STOCK, ENRICHED EGG NOODLES,
COOKED CHICKEN MEAT, CELERY, CARROTS,
WATER, POTASSIUM CHOLORIDE, CHICKEN
FAT, COOKED MECHANICALLY SEPARATED
CHICKEN, MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE,
CORNSTARCH, ONION POWDER, MODIFIED
FOOD STARCH, YEAST EXTRACT, SPICE
EXTRACT, SOY PROTEIN ISOLATE, SODIUM
PHOSPHATES, BETA CARONTENE FOR
COLOR, CHICKEN FLAVOR, FLAVORING,
DEHYDRATED GARLIC.!
Potassium Chloride Product FAQ!
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© 2013 Cargill, Incorporated. All rights reserved.
© 2013 Cargill, Incorporated. All rights reserved.!

10. What about chloride intake
from potassium chloride? !
ANSWER: !
• According to the IOM, the AI for chloride is 2.3 g/day and the upper limit
(UL) is 3.6 g/day for all adults; and, in general, chloride requirements are
met due to the presence of sodium chloride in processed foods. !
• Hence, the use of potassium chloride as a replacement for sodium
chloride in foods would not be expected to result in an increase in
potential dietary intake of chloride. !
Source: IOM. 2005. Chapter 6 – Sodium and Chloride. In: Dietary Reference Intakes for Water, Potassium, Sodium, Chloride, and Sulfate. Panel on Dietary
Reference Intakes for Electrolytes and Water, Standing Committee on the Scientific Evaluation of Dietary Reference Intakes, Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of
Medicine (IOM). National Academy of Sciences (NAS), pp. 269-423. Available from: http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=10925.!
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Potassium Chloride Product FAQ!
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© 2013 Cargill, Incorporated. All rights reserved.

11. Product Application:!
Baby Formula!
Ingredients:!
ORGANIC REDUCED MINERALS WHEY, ORGANIC NON-FAT MILK,
ORGANIC LACTOSE, ORGANIC GLUCOSE SYRUP SOLIDS,
ORGANIC PALM OIL OR ORGANIC PALM OLEIN, ORGANIC
COCONUT OIL, ORGANIC HIGH OLEIC (SAFFLOWER OR
SUNFLOWER OIL), ORGANIC SOY OIL, ORGANIC WHEY PROTEIN
CONCENTRATE AND LESS THAN 1%: CRYPTHECODINIUMCOHNII
OIL (DOCOSAHEXAENOIC ACID), MORTIERELLAALPINA OIL
(ARACHIDONIC ACID), SOY LECITHIN, MINERALS: (CALCIUM
CHLORIDE, CALCIUM HYDROXIDE, CUPRIC SULFATE, FERROUS
SULFATE, MANGANESE SULFATE, POTASSIUM BICARBONATE,
POTASSIUM CHLORIDE, POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE, POTASSIUM
IODIDE, SODIUM CITRATE, SODIUM SELENITE, ZINC SULFATE),
TAURINE, VITAMINS: ASCORBIC ACID, ASCORBYLPALMITATE, BETACAROTENE, BIOTIN, CALCIUM PANTOTHENATE, CHOLINE
CHLORIDE, CYANOCOBALAMIN, FOLIC ACID, INOSITOL, MIXED
TOCOPHEROL CONCENTRATE, NIACINAMIDE, PYRIDOXINE
HYDROCHLORIDE, RIBOFLAVIN, THIAMIN HYDROCHLORIDE,
VITAMIN A PALMITATE, VITAMIN D (CHOLECALCIFEROL), VITAMIN E
(DL-ALPHA TOCOPHERYL ACETATE), VITAMIN K (PHYTONADIONE),
NUCLEOTIDES: ADENOSINE-5'-MONOPHOSPHATE, CYTIDINE-5'MONOPHOSPHATE, DISODIUM GUANOSINE-5'-MONOPHOSPHATE,
DISODIUM INOSINE-5'-MONOPHOSPHATE, DISODIUM URIDINE-5'MONOPHOSPHATE.!
Potassium Chloride Product FAQ!
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© 2013 Cargill, Incorporated. All rights reserved.
© 2013 Cargill, Incorporated. All rights reserved.!

12. Are there any health issues that I
should be concerned about? !
ANSWER: !
• In the generally healthy population with normal kidney function, intake of
excess potassium from foods is not of concern because it is readily
excreted in the urine.!
• However, individuals who have special medical conditions associated
with impaired urinary excretion of potassium (e.g., diabetes, renal failure,
severe heart failure, etc.) or undergoing specific therapeutic regimens
(e.g., certain drugs, dietary restrictions, etc.) should consult with their
healthcare professional prior to consuming any foods containing
potassium chloride. !
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Potassium Chloride Product FAQ!
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© 2013 Cargill, Incorporated. All rights reserved.

13. Product Application:!
Frozen Entrees!
Ingredients:!
BLANCHED WHOLE WHEAT SPAGHETTI (WATER,
WHOLE DURUM WHEAT FLOUR), TOMATOES, WATER,
COOKED WHITE MEAT CHICKEN (WHITE MEAT
CHICKEN, WATER, SEASONING (SALT, MALTODEXTRIN,
GARLIC, SUGAR, SPICES, DEXTROSE, YEAST EXTRACT,
CARRAGEENAN, ORANGE PEEL, ONION, SOYBEAN OIL,
CHICKEN FAT, PAPRIKA, CHICKEN BROTH, DRIED
CELERY, NATURAL FLAVOR), ISOLATED SOY PROTEIN,
MODIFIED FOOD STARCH, CARAMEL COLORING,
MALTODEXTRIN, SODIUM PHOSPHATE, CANOLA OIL),
ZUCCHINI, YELLOW PEPPERS, 2% OR LESS OF SEA
SALT, ONIONS, TOMATO PUREE (WATER, TOMATO
PASTE), MODIFIED CORNSTARCH, RIPE OLIVES (RIPE
OLIVES, WATER, SALT, FERROUS GLUCONATE), SUN
DRIED TOMATOES, SOYBEAN OIL, SUGAR, CHICKEN
FLAVOR, BASIL, GARLIC PUREE, POTASSIUM
CHLORIDE, SPICES, YEAST EXTRACT, DEHYDRATED
ONIONS. !
Potassium Chloride Product FAQ!
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© 2013 Cargill, Incorporated. All rights reserved.
© 2013 Cargill, Incorporated. All rights reserved.!

14. Does my body need potassium chloride? !
ANSWER: !
• Potassium chloride is absorbed into the body in the form of its
constituent ions: potassium and chloride. !
• Electrolytes, like potassium and chloride, are vital to the normal
functioning of the human body (e.g., blood pressure homeostasis, kidney
function, cell communication, pH buffering).!
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Potassium Chloride Product FAQ!
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© 2013 Cargill, Incorporated. All rights reserved.

15. Product Application:!
Sauce!
Ingredients:!
CRUSHED TOMATOES, WATER,
TOMATOES, SUGAR, POTASSIUM
CHOLORIDE, OLIVE OIL, GARLIC
POWDER, ONION POWDER,
SPICES.!
Potassium Chloride Product FAQ!
www.cargillsaltinperspective.com!
!
© 2013 Cargill, Incorporated. All rights reserved.
© 2013 Cargill, Incorporated. All rights reserved.!

16. What is potassium chloride
used for in food?!
ANSWER: !
• According to the GRAS-affirmed uses of potassium chloride, it is approved for use
as a flavor enhancer, flavoring agent, nutrient supplement, pH control agent, and
stabilizer or thickener. !
• However, potassium chloride is typically used for two main purposes in food
products: !
1.
The first is to provide potassium enrichment to foods. !
2.
The second is as a salt replacer to reduce the sodium content in foods.!
• Like salt (aka sodium chloride), potassium chloride provides a salty flavor and can
also often play other functional roles (e.g. microbial management, protein
modification, flavor enhancement) that can impact the taste, texture, and shelf life
of food products.!
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Potassium Chloride Product FAQ!
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© 2013 Cargill, Incorporated. All rights reserved.

17. What are some food products that
contain potassium chloride?!
ANSWER: !
• Potassium chloride is widely used as a salt replacer or to provide
potassium enrichment in many different food products including:!
– Baby formulas!
– Cereals!
– Frozen entrees !
– Meats!
– Snack foods, such as chips or crisps!
– Sports/electrolyte drinks!
– Soups!
– Sauces!
– Snack/meal bars!
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Potassium Chloride Product FAQ!
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© 2013 Cargill, Incorporated. All rights reserved.

18. Product Application:!
Snack / Meal Bar!
Ingredients:!
ROLLED WHOLE GRAIN BLEND (HARD RED
WHEAT, OATS, RYE, BARLEY), BROWN RICE
SYRUP, SOY PROTEIN ISOLATE, DRIED
CANE SYRUP, SOY GRITS, CHICORY ROOT
FIBER, RAISINS, SUNFLOWER SEEDS, CANE
SYRUP, CRANBERRIES, VEGETABLE
GLYCERIN, CORN FLOUR, HONEY, RICE
STARCH, EXPELLER PRESSED CANOLA OIL,
OAT FIBER, POTASSIUM CHLORIDE,
NATURAL FLAVORS, MOLASSES, OATS, RYE,
BROWN RICE, BARLEY, BUCKWHEAT,
SUNFLOWER OIL, SOY LECITHIN, WHEY
PROTEIN ISOLATE.!
Potassium Chloride Product FAQ!
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© 2013 Cargill, Incorporated. All rights reserved.
© 2013 Cargill, Incorporated. All rights reserved.!

19. What are other non-food uses of
potassium chloride? !
ANSWER: !
• By far the largest use for potassium chloride is as a fertilizer. Like
humans and many other living organisms, plants also need potassium to
flourish. Fertilizer/industrial grade potassium chloride is commonly
referred to as potash.!
• Potassium chloride is also used in the pharmaceutical industry in dialysis
fluids, among other things. Potassium chloride in dialysis fluid helps
keep the body’s electrolytes in balance.!
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Potassium Chloride Product FAQ!
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© 2013 Cargill, Incorporated. All rights reserved.

20. Product Application:!
Cereals!
Ingredients:!
RICE, WHEAT GLUTEN, SUGAR,
DEFATTED WHEAT GERM,
POTASSIUM CHLORIDE, HIGH
FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, DRIED
WHEY, MALT FLAVORING. !
Potassium Chloride Product FAQ!
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!
© 2013 Cargill, Incorporated. All rights reserved.
© 2013 Cargill, Incorporated. All rights reserved.!

21. Is there another way to reduce salt/sodium
without using potassium chloride? !
ANSWER: !
• For home cooking, one could use herbs and seasonings to provide flavor
to foods. !
• For commercially prepared items, flavors and herbs may provide or
enhance the taste of foods; but, a food manufacturer would still need to
consider the other basic functional roles of salt (e.g., texture, microbial
management) in the food product.!
• Depending on the functional role, one may be able use other nonsodium substitutes, e.g. magnesium chloride and calcium chloride;
however, they can sometimes create “off” flavors. !
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Potassium Chloride Product FAQ!
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© 2013 Cargill, Incorporated. All rights reserved.

22. Product Application:!
Sports / Electrolyte
Drinks!
Ingredients:!
ERYTHRITOL, NATURAL FLAVOR,
CITRIC ACID, SODIUM CITRATE,
FRUIT AND VEGETABLE JUICE
FOR COLOR, POTASSIUM
CHLORIDE, REBIANA, SEA SALT.!
Potassium Chloride Product FAQ!
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© 2013 Cargill, Incorporated. All rights reserved.
© 2013 Cargill, Incorporated. All rights reserved.!

23. Do I have to be concerned about
potassium chloride allergies? !
ANSWER: !
• Potassium chloride does not contain any of the major known food
allergens, including: wheat, soy, milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish or
shellfish. However, with any food, there is risk of intolerance or an
allergic reaction. !
• Individuals who believe they have had a reaction to consumption of
potassium chloride should consult with their health care professionals. !
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Potassium Chloride Product FAQ!
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© 2013 Cargill, Incorporated. All rights reserved.