Chelating agents
Also appears on labels as: tetrasodium glutamate diacetate, tetrasodium glutamate diacetate (plant-derived), pentetic acid, tetrahydroxypropyl ethylenediamine, disodium edta, tetrasodium edta
Molecules that bind the calcium and magnesium in hard water: EDTA, tetrasodium glutamate diacetate (GLDA), pentetic acid (DTPA) and tetrahydroxypropyl ethylenediamine.
Watched ingredients get highlighted on every product panel you open.
- Where it comes from
- Chemical synthesis. GLDA is made from glutamic acid, an amino acid.
- Why it's in the product
- Help cleansers and preservatives work in hard water, and keep a product clear in the bottle.
- Safety and toxicity
- Not a preservative, and carries no flag. EDTA helps a preservative system work, which is why it used to share the cosmetic preservatives entry; it is a chelator, and since October 2026 it reads as one.
General reference, not veterinary advice. Dose, breed, and existing conditions change the answer, so talk to your vet before changing what your pet eats. Think we got this wrong? Tell us and we log it publicly.
Found in 7 scored products
Lowest scores first. Its presence here is not what drove those scores.
