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Summary of Evaluations Performed by the
Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives

NITROUS OXIDE
INS: 942
Chemical names: DINITROGEN MONOXIDE
Synonyms: NITROGEN OXIDE; DINITROGEN MONOXIDE
Functional class: PROPELLANT; ANTIOXIDANT; FOAMING AGENT
Latest evaluation: 2000
ADI: ACCEPTABLE AS PROPELLANT (1985)
Comments: At its twenty-ninth meeting (1985), the Committee concluded that use of nitrous oxide as a propellant for food was acceptable. At its fifty-fifth meeting (2000), the Committee was requested by the Codex Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants to evaluate the additional use of nitrous oxide as a packaging gas, but the Committee could not carry out this request because no information on intake of nitrous oxide for such use was available.
Report: TRS 901-JECFA 55/17
Specifications: COMPENDIUM ADDENDUM 8/FNP 52 Add.8/79
Tox monograph: NOT PREPARED
Previous status: 1985, TRS 733-JECFA 29/40, FNP 34-JECFA 29/157 (COMPENDIUM/1009). NOT PREPARED. ACCEPTABLE (THE FOOD USE OF NITROUS OXIDE AS A PROPELLANT IS ACCEPTABLE). AC. R
1984, FNP 31/2-JECFA 28/67. R
1978, TRS 631-JECFA 22/23, FNP 7-JECFA 22/46, NOT PREPARED. NO ADI ALLOCATED. NO. N
 
28 Apr 02    




    See Also:
       Toxicological Abbreviations
       Nitrous oxide (ICSC)
       Nitrous oxide (PIM 381)