Food Additive · EU 927a
Azodicarbonamide
FDA status: Approved. EU: Banned. No U.S. state has enacted a specific ban yet.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Azodicarbonamide is FDA-approved, and no U.S. state has moved to restrict it independently of federal policy. Its composite safety score is 4 out of 5 (Low Risk), and the European Union separately classifies it as banned. By tracked product count it ranks #158 of 417.
- #158 of 417 by tracked product prevalence
The verdict
Azodicarbonamide is FDA-approved, though the EU lists it as banned. By Open Food Facts product count it sits #158 of 417 among additives with tracked product presence (62nd percentile).
- 4/5
- Low Risk
- Approved
- FDA status
- #158 of 417
- product-prevalence rank
- 0
- state regulations
Product-footprint and regulatory snapshot
Azodicarbonamide: 51 tracked U.S. products (moderate band, #158 of 417) frame how often this additive appears on shelves.
| Property | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tracked Products | 51 · #158 of 417 | Open Food Facts (US) |
| FDA Status | Approved | FDA SAFFA |
| EU Status | Banned | EC 1333/2008 |
| E-Number | 927a | EU additive register |
| CAS Number | - | CAS Registry |
| Category | Food Additive | FDA functional class |
| Composite Safety Score | 4 / 5 (Low Risk) | PlainIngredients methodology |
| EFSA ADI | Not established | EFSA scientific opinion |
| U.S. State Actions | 0 states | State legislative records |
Values reflect official agency classifications as published by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Union's regulatory framework. See our methodology for scoring details.
What is Azodicarbonamide?
Azodicarbonamide is a food additive (927a) classified as food additive.
Common Uses
Shelf-footprint peer axes
Nationwide peers for a moderate OFF footprint
Nearest OFF product-count peers (51 tracked here); safety-score column omitted on prevalence-led pages.
Nearest OFF product count to 51
Nearest other additives by Open Food Facts product count (floored at ≥50).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Azodicarbonamide safe to consume?
Azodicarbonamide scores 4/5 (Low Risk). FDA status is Approved. On the Open Food Facts U.S. sample it is a moderate additive (51 tracked products, #158 of 417), so product footprint, not just the score label, frames how widely a shopper will meet it.
What is Azodicarbonamide used for in food?
Azodicarbonamide shows up as Various processed foods in the Food Additive class, and the OFF sample puts it in the moderate footprint band (51 products).
Where does Azodicarbonamide sit among food additives PlainIngredients tracks?
Among additives with at least one tracked product, it ranks #158 of 417 by Open Food Facts product count. See /methodology#corpus-placement for the ranking bases.
What is the difference between FDA and EU regulation of Azodicarbonamide?
The FDA classifies Azodicarbonamide as "Approved" while the EU status is "Banned" (927a). The EU often applies the precautionary principle, sometimes restricting additives that remain approved in the US.