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    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.


    SODIUM DIACETATE

    Explanation

         Sodium diacetate has been evaluated for acceptable daily intake
    by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (see Annex 1,
    Ref. No. 6) in 1961.

         Since the previous evaluation, additional data have become
    available and are summarized and discussed in the following monograph.
    The previously published monograph has been expanded and is reproduced
    in its entirety below.

    BIOLOGICAL DATA

    BIOCHEMICAL ASPECTS

         There are no studies with sodium diacetate as such, but it may be
    expected to be metabolized in the same way as other salts of acetic
    acid after absorption.

    TOXICOLOGICAL STUDIES

    Acute toxicity

         There is no direct information on the LD50 of sodium diacetate
    in animals. It is probably similar to that of neutralized acetic acid.

                                                                        

                         Neutralized acetic acid
    Animal      Route             LD50             Reference
                                (mg/kg bw)
                                                                        

    Mouse       oral             3 310             Woodard et al., 1941

    Rat         oral             4 960             Woodard et al., 1941

    Rat         oral             3 530             Smyth, 1951
                                                                        

    Short-term studies

    Rat

         Since there are no data on sodium diacetate as such, studies with
    acetic acid may be considered. Rats given drinking water containing
    0.25% of acetic acid were not affected; at a concentration of 0.5%
    growth was inhibited (Sollmann, 1920-21).

    Long-term studies

         No studies in animals are available. Acetic acid from vinegar and
    from other sources is normally consumed by man in amounts of about 1 g
    daily, apparently without adverse effects.

    OBSERVATIONS IN MAN

    Comments:

         In the absence of long-term studies, an acceptable level of human
    intake of sodium diacetate has been estimated from the observations of
    the effect of acetic acid in animals and in man.

    EVALUATION

    Estimate of acceptable daily intake for man

         0-15 mg/kg bw

    REFERENCES

    Smyth, H. F. jr (1951) A.M.A. Arch. industr. Hyg., 4, 119

    Sollmann, T. (1920-21) J. Pharmacol. exp. Ther., 16, 463

    Woodard, G. et al. (1941) J. industr. Hyg., 23, 78


    See Also:
       Toxicological Abbreviations
       SODIUM DIACETATE (JECFA Evaluation)