•A rapid CZE method for the analysis ofcitrate, phosphate and sulfitewas developed.•The analytes were separated in less than 3.5 min.•Seafood samples were analyzed by the validated CZE method.•In-house method validation was performed to confirm the fitness-for-purpose. Since seafood is susceptible to decomposition, additives may be used to maintain its quality. However, some additives may be improperly used to disguise spoilage, thus resulting in food fraud. Market growth demands faster and more reliable quality control tools that incorporate the most common additives in a single analysis. This study developed a rapid analytical method for the determination of citrate, phosphate and sulfite in seafood by capillary zone electrophoresis with indirect UV–Vis detection. Electrophoretic separation was achieved in less than 3.5 min. The background electrolyte consisted of 20 mmol L−1 of benzenesulfonic acid and 45 mmol L−1 of aminocaproic acid. After validation, the method was applied for 24 seafood real samples. Citrate was found in five samples. Four samples presented higher phosphate and sulfite concentrations than those permitted by Brazilian legislation. Good analytical performance indicates that the method is a viable alternative for food control in routine analysis.