Is Baking Soda Toxic?
In food, the FDA's regulation for sodium bicarbonate, 21 CFR 184.1736, says it is used with no limitation other than current good manufacturing practice, and describes how it is made, by absorbing carbon dioxide into a sodium carbonate solution and filtering, washing and drying the result.
As an antacid it has limits. The FDA's rule for over-the-counter antacids sets a maximum daily dosage for sodium bicarbonate of 200 mEq of sodium and 200 mEq of bicarbonate for people up to 60 years old, and 100 mEq of each for people 60 and older, and requires labels to warn against taking more than the maximum daily dosage in 24 hours or using the maximum dosage for more than 2 weeks except under a physician's advice and supervision.
Overdoses are uncommon but serious. Emergency physicians writing in 2025 in the Journal of Education and Teaching in Emergency Medicine say severe electrolyte disturbances are often present with sodium bicarbonate toxicity, most commonly high sodium and low potassium, phosphate, calcium and magnesium, and note that documented overdoses are comparatively sparse, citing 192 cases reported to the California Poison Control System from 2000 to 2012.
Sources checked September 15, 2026. Every point below links the page it came from.
The sources behind this answer
- Regulatory filingUnder 21 CFR 184.1736, sodium bicarbonate is used in food with no limitation other than current good manufacturing practice. US FDA, 21 CFR 184.1736 (eCFR) ↗
- Regulatory filingThe FDA regulation describes sodium bicarbonate forming as carbon dioxide is absorbed into a sodium carbonate solution, with the slurry filtered into a cake that is washed and dried. US FDA, 21 CFR 184.1736 (eCFR) ↗
- Regulatory filingThe FDA's antacid rule sets a maximum daily sodium bicarbonate dosage of 200 mEq of sodium and bicarbonate for people up to 60, and 100 mEq of each for people 60 or older. US FDA, 21 CFR 331.11 (eCFR) ↗
- Regulatory filingThe FDA requires antacid labels to warn against exceeding the maximum daily dosage in 24 hours or using it for more than 2 weeks except under a physician's advice and supervision. US FDA, 21 CFR 331.30 (eCFR) ↗
- StudyEmergency physicians writing in 2025 say severe electrolyte disturbances are often present with sodium bicarbonate toxicity, most commonly hypernatremia, hypokalemia, hypophosphatemia, hypocalcemia and hypomagnesemia. Journal of Education and Teaching in Emergency Medicine, via PubMed Central ↗
- StudyThe same authors say documented sodium bicarbonate overdoses are comparatively sparse, citing 192 cases reported to the California Poison Control System from 2000 to 2012. Journal of Education and Teaching in Emergency Medicine, via PubMed Central ↗
Sources checked September 15, 2026. A brand statement is the company’s own claim, which we report but have not verified. Our grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests.