Toxicological evaluation of some food
additives including anticaking agents,
antimicrobials, antioxidants, emulsifiers
and thickening agents
WHO FOOD ADDITIVES SERIES NO. 5
The evaluations contained in this publication
were prepared by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert
Committee on Food Additives which met in Geneva,
25 June - 4 July 19731
World Health Organization
Geneva
1974
1 Seventeenth Report of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on
Food Additives, Wld Hlth Org. techn. Rep. Ser., 1974, No. 539;
FAO Nutrition Meetings Report Series, 1974, No. 53.
THIODIPROPIONIC ACID AND DILAURYL ESTER
Explanation
These substances have been evaluated for acceptable daily intake
by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (see Annex 1,
Refs Nos 6 and 9) in 1961 and 1964.
The previously published monographs have been revised and are
reproduced in their entirety below.
BIOLOGICAL DATA
BIOCHEMICAL ASPECTS
No information available.
TOXICOLOGICAL STUDIES
Acute toxicity
THIODIPROPIONIC ACID
Animal Route LD50 mg/kg bw Reference
Mouse oral 2 000 Lehman et al., 1951
Mouse i.p. 250 Lehman et al., 1951
Mouse i.v. 175 Lehman et al., 1951
Rat oral 3 000 Lehman et al., 1951
Rat i.p. 500 Lehman et al., 1951
Rat i.v. > 300 Lehman et al., 1951
DILAURYL THIODIPROPIONATE
Animal Route LD50 mg/kg bw Reference
Mouse oral > 2 000 Lehman et al., 1951
Mouse i.p. > 2 000 Lehman et al., 1951
Rat oral > 2 500 Lehman et al., 1951
DISTEARYL THIODIPROPIONATE
Animal Route LD50 mg/kg bw Reference
Mouse oral > 2 000 Lehman et al., 1951
Mouse i.p. > 2 000 Lehman et al., 1951
Rat oral > 2 500 Lehman et al., 1951
Short-term studies
Rat
Mixtures of thiodipropionic acid and dilauryl thiodipropionate
were heated with lard in concentrations at least 10 times that
recommended for use and fed to rats. There was no detectable toxic
effect (Lehman et al., 1951).
Guinea-pig
Thiodipropionic acid was fed to guinea-pigs at a level of 0.5% in
the drinking-water for a period of 120 days. No significant effect was
noted on weight or mortality (Lehman et al., 1951).
Dog
Dogs were fed a mixture of 10 parts by weight of dilauryl
thiodipropionate and one part of thiodipropionic acid in the diet at
concentrations of 0.1% and 3.0% of the acid-ester mixture. No untoward
effects were noted over a period of 100 days (Lehman et al., 1951).
Long-term studies
Rat
Thiodipropionic acid or its dilauryl or distearyl ester was fed
to groups of 20 rats each at levels of 0%, 0.5%, 1.0% and 3.0% in the
diet for a period of two years. No discernible adverse effects were
observed in any of the experimental animals, as determined by growth
rate, mortality, and pathological examination (Lehman et al., 1951).
Comments:
It would be desirable to have biochemical studies and
observations on human subjects.
EVALUATION
Level causing no toxicological effect
Rat: 30 000 ppm (3%) in the diet equivalent to 1500 mg/kg bw.
Estimate of acceptable daily intake for man
0-3* mg/kg bw.**
FURTHER WORK OR INFORMATION
Desirable
Biochemical studies and observation on human subjects.
Specifications for the distearyl ester.
REFERENCE
Lehman, A. J. et al. (1951) Advanc. Food Res., 3, 197
* Calculated as thiodipropionic acid.
** The ADI does not apply to the distearyl ester as no
specifications are available.