Calcium hydroxide, Ca(OH)2, is a low-toxicity material widely used in the food industry. Its main applications include:

• Cleaning raw sugarcane or beet juice in the sugar industry
• Processing water for alcoholic beverages and soft drinks
• Use in pickling such as cucumbers and other foods
• Preparation of Chinese "century eggs"
• Preparation of corn tortillas, helping the corn flour to bind
• Cleaning brine of calcium and magnesium carbonates in the preparation of salt for food and pharmaceutical uses
• Fortification (calcium supplement) in fruit drinks, such as orange juice and baby foods
• Digestion aid (chuna) in India in paan, a mixture of areca nut, calcium hydroxide, and various nuts wrapped in betel leaves
• Substitute for baking soda in the preparation of papadam