FAO Nutrition Meetings
    Report Series No. 40A,B,C
    WHO/Food Add./67.29




    TOXICOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF SOME
    ANTIMICROBIALS, ANTIOXIDANTS, EMULSIFIERS,
    STABILIZERS, FLOUR-TREATMENT AGENTS, ACIDS AND BASES





    The content of this document is the result of the deliberations of the
    Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives which met at Rome,
    13-20 December, 19651 Geneva, 11-18 October, 19662




                   

    1 Ninth Report of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food
    Additives, FAO Nutrition Meetings Report Series, 1966 No. 40; 
    Wld Hlth Org. techn. Rep. Ser., 1966, 339

    2 Tenth Report of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food
    Additives, FAO Nutrition Meetings Report Series, 1967, in press; 


    Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
    World Health Organization
    1967


    PROPIONIC ACID

    Chemical names                Propionic acid; Propanoic acid

    Empirical formula             C3H6O2

    Structural formula            CH3CH2COOH

    Molecular weight              74.08

    Definition                    Propionic, acid is a liquid with a
                                  slightly pungent odour.

    Use                           As mould inhibitor

    Biological Data

    (See Sodium Propionate)

    CALCIUM PROPIONATE

    Chemical names                Calcium propionate; Calcium propanoate

    Empirical formula             C6H10O4Ca

    Structural formula

    

    Molecular weight              186.23

    Definition                    Calcium propionate, after drying at
                                  110°,  contains not less than 99 per
                                  cent. of C6H10O4Ca.

    Description                   Calcium propionate is a white
                                  crystalline solid with not more than a
                                  faint odour of propionic acid.

    Use                           As mould inhibitor.

    Biological Data

    (See Sodium Propionate)

    SODIUM PROPIONATE

    Chemical names                Sodium propionate; Sodium propanoate.

    Empirical formula             C3H5O2Na

    Structural formula            CH3-CH2-COONa

    Molecular weight              96.06

    Definition                    Sodium propionate, after drying at 110°
                                  contains not less than 99 per cent. of
                                  C3H5O2Na

    Description                   Sodium propionate is a white or
                                  colourless, crystalline, hygroscopic
                                  solid with not more than a faint
                                  characteristic odour.

    Use                           As mould inhibitor.

    Biological data

         Biological data on propionates are given in the Sixth Report of
    the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives, FAO Nutrition
    Meetings Report Series No. 31; Wld Hlth Org. techn. Rep. Ser.,
    228.

    Evaluation

         There is no reason to believe that propionic acid differs
    toxicologically from its calcium and sodium salts. The estimated
    acceptable daily intakes of these salts for man given in the Sixth
    Report of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives are
    therefore considered applicable to the acid.

    Estimate of acceptable daily intakes for man

                                  mg/kg body-weight1
       Unconditional acceptance          0-10
       Conditional acceptance            10-20

                   

    1 As the sum of propionic acid and calcium and sodium propionate
    (calculated as propionic acid).
    

    See Also:
       Toxicological Abbreviations
       Propionic acid (ICSC)
       PROPIONIC ACID (JECFA Evaluation)