Sodium erythorbate (C6H7NaO6) is a food additive used predominantly in meats, poultry, and soft drinks. Chemically, it is the sodium salt of erythorbic acid. When used in processed meat such as hot dogs and beef sticks, it reduces the rate at which nitrate reduces to nitric oxide, thus retaining the pink coloring. As an antioxidant structurally related to vitamin C, it helps improve flavor stability and prevents the formation of carcinogenic nitrosamines. When used as a food additive, its E number is E316.

Sodium erythorbate is produced from sugars derived from sources such as beets, sugar cane and corn. An urban myth claims that sodium erythorbate is made from ground earthworms; However, there is no truth to the myth. It is thought that the genesis of the legend comes from the similarity of the chemical name to the words earthworm and bait.