Sodium tetraborate (borax) (E285)
Updated October 2, 2026
Sodium tetraborate (borax) (E285) is a food additive in the “other additives” group. It appears in 41 products in our database, 2 of them sold in the US.
Quick facts
- Also known as
- E285
- E-number
- E285
- Function
- Other additives
- Found in
- 41 products (2 sold in the US)
Foods that commonly contain Sodium tetraborate (borax)
Share of published products in each category whose ingredient list includes Sodium tetraborate (borax).
Popular products with Sodium tetraborate (borax)
c NOVA 4 
d NOVA 4 
NOVA 4 
NOVA 4 
NOVA 4 
e NOVA 3 
e NOVA 3 
a 
e NOVA 3 
e NOVA 3 Sodium tetraborate (borax)-free alternatives
Popular products from the same categories that don't list Sodium tetraborate (borax) and score Nutri-Score A–C.
b NOVA 1 
b NOVA 4 
c NOVA 4 How to spot Sodium tetraborate (borax) on a label
Look for any of these names in the ingredient list:
Related additives
Frequently asked questions
What foods contain Sodium tetraborate (borax)?
In our database, Sodium tetraborate (borax) most often appears in fish and meat and eggs, caviars, taramasalata and vitamins.
How many products contain Sodium tetraborate (borax)?
41 published products on Foodmetria list Sodium tetraborate (borax), including 2 sold in the United States. Counts come from ingredient lists in Open Food Facts and update daily.
Product data: Open Food Facts (ODbL), updated daily. Additive information is for general education and is not medical advice. Always check the package label. Our methodology.