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

FORMIC ACID
INS: 236
COE No.: 1
FEMA No.: 2487
JECFA No.: 79
Chemical names: FORMIC ACID
Functional class: PRESERVATIVE; FLAVOURING AGENT
Latest evaluation: 1997
ADI: 0-3 mg/kg bw (1979)
Comments: No safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agent. The group ADI of 0-3 mg/kg bw that was established for formic acid and ethyl formate at the twenty-third meeting (1979) was maintained at the forty-ninth meeting (1997).
Report: TRS 884-JECFA 49/29
Specifications: COMPENDIUM ADDENDUM 8/FNP 52 Add.8/130 (FLAVOUR) (2000)
Tox monograph: FAS 40-JEC FA 49/147 (FLAVOUR)
Previous status: 1997, COMPENDIUM ADDENDUM 5/FNP 52 Add.5/210. N (FLAVOUR)
1979, TRS 648-JECFA 23/27, FNP 12-JECFA 23/39, FAS 14-JECFA 23/37. 0-3 (GROUP ADI FOR FORMIC ACID AND ETHYL FORMATE). FU. R
1973, NMRS 53/TRS 539-JECFA 17/35, FNP 4-JECFA 17/129 (COMPENDIUM/663), FAS 5/NMRS 53A-JECFA 17/60. 0-3. FU. R
1964, NMRS 38/TRS 309-JECFA 8/25, FAS 24.65/NMRS 38A-JECFA 8/19, FAS 24.65/NMRS 38A-JECFA 8/19. 0-5 (CONDITIONAL; NATURALLY OCCURRING SUBSTANCE; THE ADI DOES NOT INCLUDE THE AMOUNT OCCURRING NATURALLY). CO. R
1961, NMRS 31/TRS 228-JECFA 6/58, NMRS 31/TRS 228-JECFA 6/58. 0-5 (CONDITIONAL). CO. N
 
12 Mar 03    




    See Also:
       Toxicological Abbreviations
       Formic acid (ICSC)
       Formic acid (FAO Nutrition Meetings Report Series 38a)
       Formic acid (WHO Food Additives Series 5)