E942; Nitrous Oxide

(in 9 products)

1. Antioxidant - Reduces oxidation to prevent the formation of free radicals which may be harmful to health.

2. Binder / Stabilizer - Retains the physical characteristics of food/cosmetics and ensure the mixture remains in an even state.

3. Drug / Medicine - Treats, alleviates, cures, or prevents sickness. As officially declared by a governmental drug/medicine regulatory body

4. Packaging Gas / Propellants - Packaging gas used as protection and inhibition of unwanted chemical reactions. Propellants used as a carrier gas to deliver other ingredients

Nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas or nitrous, is a naturally occurring gas that is colorless and non flammable. It can be manufactured and used for a variety of things such as a pharmacologic agent to produce anesthesia, a food additive as a propellant, and an additive to fuels to increase available oxygen in combustion.

As a food additive (E942), it is specifically used as an aerosol spray propellant. Its most common uses in this context are in aerosol whipped cream canisters, cooking sprays, and as an inert gas used to displace oxygen in order to inhibit bacterial growth when filling packages of potato chips and other similar snack foods.

It is approved to use as food additive in EU.

1. PubChem: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/948

1. US California Proposition 65, Chemicals known to the State to Cause Developmental or Reproductive Toxicity in Females

- Nitrous oxide

2. EU Approved Food Additive [2018]

- E942

3. Japan’s List of Designated Food Additives under Article 10 of the Food Sanitation Act

- Nitrous Oxide

4. Canada List of Permitted Food Additives

- List 8 - Nitrous Oxide

5. WHO Model List of Essential Medicines [2019]

- nitrous oxide

6. US FDA Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) Food Substances (21 CFR 184) [2017]

- § 184.1545 - Nitrous oxide