FAO Nutrition Meetings
    Resort Series No. 44A
    WHO/Food Add./68.33




    TOXICOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF SOME
    FLAVOURING SUBSTANCES AND
    NON-NUTRITIVE SWEETENING AGENTS





    Geneva, 21-28 August 1967



    The Eleventh Report of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food
    Additives is published as FAO Nutrition Meetings Report Series,
    1967, No. 44; Wld Hlth Org. techn. Rep. Ser., 1968, 383. This
    Report contains general considerations, including the principles
    adopted for the evaluation, and a summary of the results of the
    evaluations of a number of food additives. Additional information,
    such as biological data and a toxicological evaluation, considered at
    that meeting, is to be found in this document.


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


    ETHYL LACTATE

    Chemical name                 Ethyl 2-hydroxypropionate

    Empirical formula             CH5H10O3

    Structural formula            CH3CHOCOOH2H5

    Molecular weight              118.13

    Definition                    Ethyl lactate contains not less than 98
                                  per cent. C5H10O3.

    Description                   Ethyl lactate is a colourless liquid
                                  having a characteristic odour 

    Biological Data

    Biochemical aspects

         This ester probably hydrolyses into ethyl alcohol and lactic
    acid, which are common constituents of food (Fassett, 1963).

    Acute toxicity

         Inhalation experiments in animals produced narcosis and
    respiratory failure in large doses. It has been shown to be a narcotic
    for man (Lewin, 1929).

    Short-term studies

         None available.

    Long-term studies

         None available.

    Comments

         This ester probably metabolises into normal food constituents and
    evaluation is based on this knowledge. Further biochemical studies are
    needed.

    EVALUAION

    Estimate of acceptable daily intake for man

                                       mg/kg body-weight

    Conditional acceptance                  0-1001

    Further work required

         Biochemical studies in animals and man with emphasis on in
    vitro and in vivo hydrolysis.

    REFERENCES

    Browning, E. (1965) Toxicity and Metabolism of Industrial Solvents,
    Elsevier, London & New York

    Fassett, D. M. (1963) In: Patty, F. A., Industrial Hygiene and
    Toxicology, Second edition, Interscience, New York & London

    Lewin, L. (1929) Gifte und Vergiftungen, Fourth ed., Springer,
    Berlin


                   

    1 As total D(-)-lactic acid from all food additive sources.

    

    See Also:
       Toxicological Abbreviations
       Ethyl lactate (WHO Food Additives Series 14)
       Ethyl lactate (WHO Food Additives Series 15)
       ETHYL LACTATE (JECFA Evaluation)