Sodium acetate is the sodium salt of acetic acid. It is made by neutralising acetic acid with a sodium base such as sodium hydroxide or sodium carbonate, giving a white powder with a mildly salty taste. INS 262 covers sodium acetates: sub-index (i) is sodium acetate, and 262 (ii) is sodium diacetate, the form best known from salt-and-vinegar flavourings. Codex lists sodium acetate as an acidity regulator, preservative and sequestrant, and in the EU it falls under E262.
In chip seasonings it buffers the acidity of the blend and supports the tang of acetic acid. On SeekSnack it heads the list of acidity regulators in Lay’s Play 3D Cheese Pizza and Lay’s Rock Ridged Cheese Pizza.
