Inventory of Food Contact Substances Listed in 21 CFR
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FDA authorizes Food Contact Substances by identity, intended use, and conditions of use; the presence of a substance in this list indicates that only certain intended uses and use conditions are authorized by FDA regulations. This list is a compilation of the names of these substances (or combinations of substances in the case of, for example, polymers and resins) found in 21 CFR parts 173, 175 - 178, 179.45, 180.22, 181, and 186. The regulation(s) cited for specific substances should always be consulted to understand the regulatory status of a given substance, its allowed intended uses and conditions of use.
The inventory also contains information on substances listed in 21 CFR 189 that are prohibited from use as food contact substances.
See more about Inventory of Food Contact Substances Listed in 21 CFR.
See also: Inventory of Effective Food Contact Substance (FCS) Notifications.
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Date of first Final Rule (sorted Z-A) |
Petition No. | Petitioner | Subject Additive and Intended Use | 21 CFR* | Reg removed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 6, 2026 | CAP 4C0326 | Phytolon Ltd. | amending the color additive regulations to provide for the safe use of beetroot red for the coloring of human foods generally, at levels consistent with current good manufacturing practice, except in products under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), infant formula, or foods for which standards of identity have been issued under section 401 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act), unless the use of the added color is authorized by such standards. | 73.39 | |
| Feb 6, 2026 | CAP 4C0334 | GNT USA, LLC | amending the color additive regulations to provide for the expanded use of spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) extract as a color additive in human foods generally (except for infant formula, certain foods subject to regulation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and foods for which standards of identity have been issued under section 401 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, unless the use of the added color is authorized by such standards) at levels consistent with good manufacturing practice (GMP), to lower the heavy metal specifications for lead, arsenic, and mercury, and to add a specification for cadmium. | 73.530 | |
| Sep 4, 2025 | FAP 1A4827 | General Mills, Inc. | amending the food additive regulations to provide for the safe use of vitamin D3 as a nutrient supplement in yogurt and other cultured dairy products fermented with Lactobacillus delbrueckii, subspecies bulgaricus (L. delbrueckii, subsp. bulgaricus), and Streptococcus thermophilus (S. thermophilus) at a level higher than is currently permitted. | 172.380 | |
| Sep 3, 2025 | FAP 2A4833 | Cargill, Inc. | amending the food additive regulation to provide for the safe use of hydrogen peroxide in food as an antimicrobial agent, oxidizing and reducing agent, and bleaching agent, and to remove sulfur dioxide. | 173.356 | |
| Jul 15, 2025 | CAP 1C0319 | Gardenia Blue Interest Group | amending the color additive regulations to provide for the safe use of gardenia (genipin) blue in various food categories at levels consistent with good manufacturing practice. | 73.168 | |
| May 12, 2025 | CAP 4C0328 | Sensient Colors, LLC | amending the color additive regulations to provide for the expanded safe use of butterfly pea flower extract as a color additive in ready-to-eat cereals, crackers, snack mixes, hard pretzels, plain potato chips (restructured or baked), and plain corn chips, tortilla chips, and multigrain chips at levels consistent with good manufacturing practice (GMP) | 73.69 | |
| May 12, 2025 | CAP 1C0320 | Fermentalg | amending the color additive regulations to provide for the safe use of galdieria extract blue, derived from unicellular red algae (Galdieria sulphuraria), in various food categories at levels consistent with good manufacturing practice (GMP). | 73.167 | |
| May 12, 2025 | CAP 3C0324 | Innophos, Inc. | amending the color additive regulations to provide for the safe use of calcium phosphate as a color additive in ready-to-eat chicken products, white candy melts, doughnut sugar, and sugar for coated candies | 73.80 | |
| Jan 17, 2025 | CAP 2C0322 | Motif FoodWorks Inc., | amending the color additive regulations to provide for the safe use of myoglobin as a color additive in ground meat and ground poultry analogue products. | 73.297 | |
| Jan 16, 2025 | CAP 3C0323 | Center for Science in the Public Interest, Breast Cancer Prevention Partners, Center for Environmental Health, Center for Food Safety, Chef Ann Foundation, Children's Advocacy Institute, Consumer Federation of America, Consumer Reports, Defend Our Health, Environmental Defense Fund, Environmental Working Group, Feingold Association of the United States, Food & Water Watch, Healthy Babies Bright Futures, Life Time Foundation, Momsrising, Prevention Institute, Public Citizen, Public Health Institute, Public Interest Research Group, Real Food for Kids, Lisa Y. Lefferts, Linda S. Birnbaum, and Philip J. Landrigan | Repealing the color additive regulations that permit the use of FD&C Red No. 3 in foods (including dietary supplements) and in ingested drugs. |
74.303 74.1303 |
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| Jul 3, 2024 | Amendment | amending our regulations to revoke the authorization for the use of brominated vegetable oil (BVO) in food | 180.30 | ||
| Mar 22, 2024 | Amendment | amending its regulations relating to the procedures for determining that a premarket notification for a food contact substance (FCN) is no longer effective |
170.102 170.105 |
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| Nov 3, 2023 | CAP 0C0317 | Ecoflora SAS | amending the color additive regulations to provide for the safe use of jagua (genipin-glycine) blue as a color additive in various food categories at levels consistent with good manufacturing practice (GMP). | 73.225 | |
| Aug 9, 2023 | Direct Final Rule | amending our regulations that provide for the use of partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs) in food in light of our determination that PHOs are no longer generally recognized as safe (GRAS); revoking prior sanctions for the use of PHOs in margarine, shortening, and bread, rolls, and buns based on our conclusion that these uses of PHOs may be injurious to health. |
161.190 164.150 184.1472 184.1555 |
186.1551 | |
| Jan 5, 2023 | FAP 9A4823 | Kellogg Company | amending the food additive regulations to provide for the safe use of vitamin D3 as a nutrient supplement in breakfast cereals and grain-based bars (e.g., breakfast bars, granola bars, rice cereal bars), and to update the reference for the Vitamin D3 specifications. | 172.380 | |
| Nov 10, 2022 | CAP 0C0316 | GNT USA, Inc. | amending the color additive regulations to provide for the expanded safe use of spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) extract as a color additive in alcoholic beverages with less than 20 percent alcohol-by-volume content, non-alcoholic beverages, condiments and sauces, dips, dairy product alternatives (identified as non-dairy yogurt alternatives, non-dairy frozen desserts, and non-dairy puddings), salad dressings, and seasoning mixes (unheated). | 73.530 | |
| Sep 27, 2022 | CAP 0C0318 | Colorcon, Inc. | amending the color additive regulations in 21 CFR Part 73.70 “Calcium Carbonate,” by expanding the permitted uses of calcium carbonate to include use in dietary supplement tablets and capsules, including coatings and printing inks, in amounts consistent with good manufacturing practice. | 73.50 | |
| May 20, 2022 | FAP 8B4820 | Flexible Vinyl Alliance (FVA) | amending the food additive regulations to no longer provide for the use of 25 plasticizers (23 ortho-phthalates and 2 related compounds) in various food contact applications because these uses have been abandoned. |
175.105 175.300 175.320 175.380 175.390 176.170 176.180 176.300 177.1010 177.1200 177.1210 177.1400 177.1460 177.1590 177.2420 177.2600 178.3740 178.3910 |
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| May 20, 2022 | FAP 6B4815 | Breast Cancer Fund (now Breast Cancer Prevention Partners), Center for Environmental Health, Center for Food Safety, Center for Science in the Public Interest, Clean Water Action, Consumer Federation of America, Earthjustice, Environmental Defense Fund, Improving Kids’ Environment, Learning Disabilities Association of America, and Natural Resources Defense Council | denying a food additive petition (FAP 6B4815) submitted by Natural Resources Defense Council, et al., requesting that we amend or revoke specified regulations to no longer provide for the food contact use of 28 ortho-phthalates. | ||
| May 10, 2022 | CAP 5C0303 | Aker BioMarine Antarctic AS | amending the color additive regulations to provide for the safe use of Antarctic krill meal, composed of the ground and dried tissue of Euphausia superba, with or without the lipid fraction, for use in the feed of salmonid fish, to enhance the color of their flesh. | 73.32 | |
| Oct 6, 2021 | CAP 8C0312 | GW Cosmetics GmbH | amending 21 CFR Part 73 to provide for the safe use of silver nitrate in professional-use only cosmetics to color eyebrows and eyelashes. | 73.2550 | |
| Sep 2, 2021 | CAP 8C0313 | Sensient Colors, LLC | amending the color additive regulations to provide for the safe use of an aqueous extract of butterfly pea flower (Clitoria ternatea) as a color additive in various food categories at levels consistent with good manufacturing practice. | 73.69 | |
| Jul 13, 2020 | FAP 8A4821 | Oakshire Naturals LP | amending the food additive regulations to provide for the safe use of vitamin D2 mushroom powder as a nutrient supplement in specific food categories. | 172.382 | |
| Aug 1, 2019 | CAP 9C0314 | Impossible Foods, Inc. | amending the color additive regulations to provide for the safe use of soy leghemoglobin as a color additive in ground beef analogue products. | 73.520 | |
| Nov 1, 2018 | CAP 7C0308 | Colorcon, Inc. | amending the color additive regulations to provide for the expanded safe use of synthetic iron oxides as color additives to include use in dietary supplement tablets and capsules. | 73.200 | |
| Oct 31, 2018 | CAP 7C0309 | Environmental Defense Fund, Earthjustice, Environmental Working Group, Center for Environmental Health, Healthy Homes Collaborative, Health Justice Project of Loyola University Chicago School of Law, Breast Cancer Fund, Improving Kids' Environment, Consumers Union, Natural Resources Defense Council, Consumer Federation of America, Learning Disabilities Association, Maricel Maffini, and Howard Mielke | amending the color additive regulations to no longer provide for the use of lead acetate in cosmetics intended for coloring hair on the scalp because new data available since lead acetate was permanently listed demonstrate that there is no longer a reasonable certainty of no harm from the use of this color additive. | 73.2396 | |
| Oct 9, 2018 | FAP 6A4817 | Styrene Information and Research Center | amending the food additive regulations to no longer provide for the use of styrene as a flavoring substance and adjuvant for use in food because these uses have been abandoned. | 172.515 | |
| Oct 9, 2018 | FAP 5A4810 | Breast Cancer Fund (now the Breast Cancer Prevention Partners), Center for Environmental Health, Center for Food Safety, Center for Science in the Public Interest, Consumers Union, Environmental Defense Fund, Environmental Working Group, Improving Kids' Environment, Natural Resources Defense Council, WE ACT for Environmental Justice, and Mr. James Huff | partially granting a petition by amending the food additive regulations to no longer authorize the use of benzophenone, ethyl acrylate, eugenyl methyl ether, myrcene, pulegone, and pyridine as synthetic flavoring substances for use in food. FDA is denying as moot the portions of the petition proposing that the food additive regulations be amended to no longer authorize the use of styrene as a synthetic flavoring substance because this use has been permanently and completely abandoned. In addition, FDA is declining to act on the petitioners' request to issue a regulation to prohibit the use of these synthetic flavoring substances in food because that issue is not the proper subject of a food additive petition. |
172.515 177.2600 |
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| Sep 25, 2018 | CAP 7C0311 | Glo Eyes, LLC | amending the color additive regulations to provide for the expanded safe use of D&C Yellow No. 8 as a color additive in contact lens solution. | 74.3708 | |
| Sep 20, 2018 | FAP 7A4818 | Juice Products Association | amending the food additive regulation for vitamin D3 to replace the current Reference Daily Intake (RDI) percentage values of calcium in 100 percent fruit juices and fruit juice drinks with absolute values and to update the reference for vitamin D3 specifications. | 172.380 | |
| Jun 7, 2018 | CAP 7C0310 | DSM Biomedical | amending the color additive regulations to provide for the safe use of D&C Black No. 4 for coloring ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) non-absorbable sutures for use in general surgery. | 74.3054 | |
| May 21, 2018 | FAP 5A4811 | Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) | denying a petition requesting that the food additive regulations be amended to provide for the safe use of partially hydrogenated vegetable oils (PHOs) in certain food applications. | ||
| Nov 7, 2017 | CAP 6C0307 | Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company | amending the color additive regulations to provide for the safe use of calcium carbonate to color hard and soft candy, mints, and chewing gum. | 73.70 | |
| Jul 3, 2017 | CAP 6C0306 | McCormick & Company, Inc. | amending the color additive regulations to provide for the expanded safe use of spirulina extract to seasonally color hard-boiled shell eggs at levels consistent with good manufacturing practice (GMP). | 73.530 | |
| May 4, 2017 | FAP 6B4816 | Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. | amending the food additive regulations to no longer provide for the use of potassium perchlorate as an additive in closure-sealing gaskets for food containers because this use has been abandoned. | 177.1210 | |
| May 4, 2017 | FAP 4B4808 | Environmental Defense Fund, Natural Resources Defense Council, Center for Food Safety, Clean Water Action, Center for Science in the Public Interest, Breast Cancer Prevention Partners, Center for Environmental Health, Environmental Working Group, and Improving Kids' Environment | denying a petition to revoke the Threshold of Regulation (TOR) exemption No. 2005-006 to no longer exempt from our food additive regulations the use of sodium perchlorate monohydrate as a conductivity enhancer in antistatic agents for use in finished articles in contact with dry foods; issue a new FDA regulation to prohibit the use of perchlorates in antistatic agents for use in food-contact articles; and amend our food additive regulations to no longer provide for the use of potassium perchlorate as an additive in closure-sealing gaskets for food containers. | ||
| Nov 22, 2016 | FAP 6B4814 | 3M Corporation | amending the food additive regulations to no longer provide for the use of two specific perfluoroalkyl containing substances as oil and water repellents for paper and paperboard for use in contact with aqueous and fatty foods because these uses have been abandoned. | 176.170 | |
| Nov 1, 2016 | CAP 6C0305 | Milton W. Chu, M.D. | amending the color additive regulations to provide for the safe use of titanium dioxide and [phthalocyaninato (2-)] copper to color orientation marks for intraocular lenses (IOLs). |
73.3126 74.3045 |
|
| Jul 18, 2016 | FAP 3A4801 | Dean Foods Company and WhiteWave Foods Company | amending the food additive regulations to expand the safe uses of vitamin D2 as a nutrient supplement in edible plant-based beverages intended for use as milk alternatives and in edible plant-based yogurt alternatives and vitamin D3 as a nutrient supplement in milk at levels higher than those currently permitted. |
172.379 172.380 |
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| Apr 15, 2016 | FAP 2A4796 | Gruma Corporation, Spina Bifida Association, March of Dimes Foundation, American Academy of Pediatrics, and National Council of La Raza | amending the food additive regulations to provide for the safe use of folic acid in corn masa flour. | 172.345 | |
| Jan 4, 2016 | FAP 4B4809 | Natural Resources Defense Council, Center for Food Safety, Clean Water Action, Center for Science in the Public Interest, Children's Environmental Health Network, Breast Cancer Fund, Center for Environmental Health, Environmental Working Group, and Improving Kids' Environment | amending the food additive regulations to no longer provide for the use of three specific perfluoroalkyl ethyl containing food-contact substances (FCSs) as oil and water repellants for paper and paperboard for use in contact with aqueous and fatty foods because new data are available as to the toxicity of substances structurally similar to these compounds that demonstrate there is no longer a reasonable certainty of no harm from the food-contact use of these FCSs. | 176.170 | |
| Sep 30, 2015 | CAP 5C0302 | E. & J. Gallo Winery | amending the color additive regulations to provide for the safe use of mica-based pearlescent pigments prepared from titanium dioxide and mica as color additives in certain distilled spirits. | 73.350 | |
| Aug 21, 2015 | CAP 4C0300 | Colorcon, Inc. | amending the color additive regulations to provide for the safe use of spirulina extract as a color additive in coating formulations applied to dietary supplement and drug tablets and capsules. | 73.1530 | |
| Jun 16, 2015 | FAP 4A4803 | Eastman Chemical Company | amending the food additive regulations by removing the upper bound of the melting point range in the regulation for the antioxidant tertiary butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) and adding a purity acceptance criterion. | 172.185 | |
| Jun 8, 2015 | CAP 5C0301 | Signature Brands, LLC | amending the color additive regulations to provide for the safe use of mica-based pearlescent pigments prepared from titanium dioxide and mica in egg decorating kits for coloring boiled shell eggs, in amounts consistent with good manufacturing practice (GMP). | 73.350 | |
| Jun 8, 2015 | CAP 4C0299 | EMD Millipore Corp. | amending the color additive regulations to expand the safe use of mica-based pearlescent pigments in alcoholic beverages to include cordials, liqueurs, cocktails, and certain other alcoholic beverages, and non-alcoholic mixers and mixes. | 73.350 | |
| Mar 20, 2015 | CAP 3C0298 | Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company | amending the color additive regulations to provide for the expanded safe use of synthetic iron oxide as a color additive to include use in soft and hard candy, mints, and chewing gum. | 73.200 | |
| Aug 12, 2014 | FAP 2A4788 | Abbott Laboratories | amending the food additive regulations in 21 CFR 172.380 to provide for the safe use of vitamin D3 as a nutrient supplement in meal replacement beverages and meal replacement bars that are not intended for special dietary use in reducing or maintaining body weight and for use in foods that are sole sources of nutrition for enteral feeding. | 172.380 | |
| May 21, 2014 | FAP 9A4778 | Ajinomoto Co., Inc. | amending the food additive regulations in part 172 Food Additives Permitted for Direct Addition to Food for Human Consumption (21 CFR part 172), to provide for the safe use of advantame as a non-nutritive sweetener in tabletop applications and powdered beverage mixes. | 172.803 | |
| Apr 14, 2014 | FAP 1M4727 | National Fisheries Institute | amending the food additive regulations to provide for the safe use of ionizing radiation for control of food-borne pathogens in crustaceans at a maximum absorbed dose of 6.0 kiloGray (kGy). | 179.26 |
* Definitions
- CAS Reg. No. (or other ID): Chemical Abstract Service (CAS) Registry Number® for the substance or a numerical code (other ID) assigned by HFP to those substances that do not have a CAS Registry Number (977nnn-nn-n series).
- Substance: The name of the additive as recognized by HFP.
- 21 CFR: The Code of Federal Regulations, Title 21 is the preferred reference to determine the regulatory status of Indirect Food Additives. Substances whose names appear in 21 CFR, parts 175-178 are authorized for specified intended users and conditions of use as stated in the regulation. Note that substances may appear in more than one regulation, or several times in the same regulation.
Note that if a substance is mentioned in 21 CFR parts 175-178 and thus, is listed above, any other citations for the same substance in other sections of 21 CFR dealing with food additives (parts 1-199 inclusive) may also be cited.
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Date of first Final Rule (sorted Z-A) |
Petition No. | Petitioner | Subject Additive and Intended Use | 21 CFR* | Reg removed |
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