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
AMMONIUM CARBONATE
Definition Ammonium carbonate consists of ammonium
hydrogen carbonate (NH4HCO3) and
ammonium carbonate (NH2.COONH4) in
varying proportions. It yields not less
than 30 per cent, and not more than 33
per cent. of NH3.
Description Ammonium carbonate occurs as a white
powder or hard, white or translucent
masses, having a strong odour of
ammonia.
Uses As a buffer and neutralizing agent.
Evaluation
See Magnesium Oxide
CALCIUM CARBONATE
Synonym Chalk
Chemical name Calcium carbonate
Empirical formula CaCO3
Molecular weight 100.09
Definition Calcium carbonate contains not less than
98.0 per cent. CaCO3, after drying.
Description Calcium carbonate occurs as a white
micro-crystalline powder. It is
odourless and tasteless.
Uses As a neutralizing agent, a nutrient
supplement, and a firming agent.
Evaluation
See Magnesium Oxide
MAGNESIUM CARBONATE
Definition Magnesium carbonate contains the
equivalent of not less than 24 per cent.
and not more than 26.4 per cent. of Mg.
Description Magnesium carbonate is a basic hydrated
magnesium carbonate or a normal hydrated
magnesium carbonate or a mixture of the
two. It occurs as odourless, light,
white, friable masses or as a bulky
white powder.
Uses As a neutralizing or anticaking agent.
Evaluation
See Magnesium Oxide
POTASSIUM CARBONATE
Chemical name Potassium carbonate
Empirical formula K2CO3 . 1 1/2 H2O
Molecular weight 138.21 (anhydrous)
Definition Potassium carbonate contains not less
than 99.0 per cent. K2CO3, after
drying.
Description Potassium carbonate occurs as a white
crystalline or granular powder. It is
odourless, has a strong alkaline taste,
and is very deliquescent, It is
available commercially as the anhydrous
salt and as the crystalline material.
Use As a neutralizing agent.
Evaluation
See Magnesium Oxide
SODIUM CARBONATE
Chemical name Sodium carbonate
Empirical formula Na2CO3. x H2O
Molecular weight 105.99 (anhydrous)
Definition Sodium carbonate contains not less than
99.0 per cent. of Na2CO3, after
drying.
Description Sodium carbonate occurs as colourless
crystals or as a white, granular or
crystalline powder.
Use As neutralizing agent.
Evaluation
See Magnesium Oxide
AMMONIUM HYDROGEN CARBONATE
Chemical name Ammonium hydrogen carbonate; Ammonium
bicarbonate
Empirical formula NH4HCO3
Molecular weight 79.06
Definition Ammonium, hydrogen carbonate contains
not less than 99 per cent. and not more
than the equivalent of 100.5 per cent.
NH4
Description Ammonium hydrogen carbonate occurs as
white crystals or as crystalline powder
having a slight odour of ammonia.
Uses As a buffer and neutralizing agent.
Evaluation
See Magnesium Oxide
POTASSIUM HYDROGEN CARBONATE
Chemical name Potassium hydrogen carbonate; Potassium
bicarbonate
Empirical formula KHCO3
Molecular weight 100.12
Definition Potassium bicarbonate contains not less
than 99 per cent. and not more than the
equivalent of 101 per cent. KHCO3
after drying.
Description Potassium hydrogen carbonate occurs as
odourless, colourless, crystals or as a
white powder or granules.
Uses As a neutralizing and leavening agent.
Evaluation
See Magnesium Oxide
SODIUM HYDROGEN CARBONATE
Synonym Baking soda
Chemical names Sodium hydrogen carbonate; Sodium
bicarbonate
Empirical formula NaHCO3
Molecular weight 84.01
Definition Sodium hydrogen carbonate contains not
less than 99.0 per cent. NaHCO3 after
drying.
Description Sodium bicarbonate occurs as an
odourless white crystalline powder.
Uses As neutralizing and leavening agent.
Evaluation
See Magnesium Oxide
AMMONIUM HYDROXIDE
Synonyms Strong ammonia solution
Chemical name Ammonium hydroxide
Empirical formula NH4OH
Molecular weight 35.05
Definition Ammonium hydroxide is an aqueous
solution containing not less than 27 per
cent. and not more than 30 per cent. by
weight of NH3.
Description Ammonium hydroxide occurs as a clear,
colourless solution of NH3 having an
exceedingly pungent characteristic
odour.
Use As a neutralizing agent.
Evaluation
See Magnesium Oxide
CALCIUM HYDROXIDE
Chemical name Calcium hydroxide.
Empirical formula Ca(OH)2
Molecular weight 74.09
Definition Calcium hydroxide contains not less than
95 per cent. Ca(OH)2.
Description Calcium hydroxide occurs as a white
powder, possessing a slightly bitter
alkaline taste.
Use As a neutralizing agent.
Evaluation
See Magnesium Oxide
MAGNESIUM HYDROXIDE
Chemical name Magnesium hydroxide
Empirical formula Mg(OH)2
Molecular weight 58.34
Definition Magnesium hydroxide contains not less
than 95 per cent. Mg(OH)2, after
drying.
Description Magnesium hydroxide occurs as an
odourless, white, bulky powder with a
slight alkaline taste.
Uses As a neutralizing, drying and colour
retention agent.
Evaluation
See Magnesium Oxide.
POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE
Chemical name Potassium hydroxide
Empirical formula KOH
Molecular weight 56.11
Definition Potassium hydroxide contains not less
than 85 per cent. of total alkali
calculated as KOH.
Description Potassium hydroxide occurs as white or
nearly white pellets, flakes, sticks,
fused masses or other forms.
Use As a neutralizing agent.
Evaluation
See Magnesium Oxide
SODIUM HYDROXIDE
Chemical name Sodium hydroxide
Empirical formula NaOH
Molecular weight 40.00
Definition Sodium hydroxide contains not less than
95 per cent. of total alkali calculated
as NaOH.
Description Sodium hydroxide occurs as white, or
nearly white pellets, flakes, sticks,
fused masses or other forms.
Use As neutralizing agent.
Evaluation
See Magnesium Oxide
CALCIUM OXIDE
Chemical name Calcium oxide
Empirical formula CaO
Molecular weight 56.08
Definition Calcium oxide, after heating at about
800° contains not less than 95 per cent.
CaO.
Description Calcium oxide occurs as an odourless,
hard, white or greyish white mass or
granules or a white to greyish white
powder.
Caution Protect eyes when adding water.
Use As a neutralizing agent.
Evaluation
See Magnesium Oxide
MAGNESIUM OXIDE
Chemical name Magnesium oxide
Empirical formula MgO
Molecular weight 40.31
Definition Magnesium oxide contains not less than
96 per cent. of MgO after heating at
about 800°.
Description Magnesium oxide occurs as a very bulky
white powder, known as light magnesium
oxide, or as a relatively dense, white
powder, known as heavy magnesium, oxide.
Five grams of light magnesium oxide
occupy a volume of approximately 40 to
50 ml, while 5 g of heavy magnesium
oxide occupy a volume of approximately
10 to 20 ml.
Use As a neutralizing agent.
Evaluation
Provided the nutritional implications or the over-all dietary
intake of cations derived from these additives are taken into account,
there appear to be no toxicological grounds to limit their use in
accordance with good manufacturing practice.