FDA Status
Approved
Preservative · EU 242
Dimethyl Dicarbonate
FDA status: Approved. EU: Approved. No U.S. state has enacted a specific ban yet.
4.0 / 5
Composite safety Low Risk
Score 4 of 5
Dimethyl Dicarbonate: 4/5 (Low Risk)
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Dimethyl Dicarbonate 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 approved.
The verdict
Dimethyl Dicarbonate is FDA-approved, and no U.S. state has moved to restrict it.
- 4/5
- Low Risk
- Approved
- FDA status
- Approved
- EU status
- 0
- state regulations
Dimethyl Dicarbonate (242) is a preservative additive holding a composite safety score of 4 out of 5 (Low Risk). According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Substances Added to Food inventory, it is currently classified as Approved, while the European Union lists it as Approved. It is most commonly used as Processed foods, baked goods, beverages.
No U.S. state has enacted specific legislation targeting Dimethyl Dicarbonate to date, keeping federal FDA classification as the operative standard. State-level food safety legislation remains active nationally, and that picture may shift as new bills advance.
Peer-reviewed research has flagged 1 distinct area of health concern for Dimethyl Dicarbonate, which factors directly into the assigned safety score. The European Food Safety Authority has published an evaluation dated 2015-12-10. All figures above draw on FDA SAFFA inventory records, EU food additive regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, EFSA scientific opinions where published, and legislative records from individual U.S. states.
Regulatory Snapshot
| Property | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| FDA Status | Approved | FDA SAFFA |
| EU Status | Approved | EC 1333/2008 |
| E-Number | 242 | EU additive register |
| CAS Number | - | CAS Registry |
| Category | Preservative | 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 |
| Tracked Products | Not yet tracked | Open Food Facts (US) |
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.
EU Status
Approved
242
U.S. State Regulations
0 states
None enacted
Safety Assessment
Dimethyl Dicarbonate's 4/5 (Low Risk) score reflects where this specific ingredient lands on that scale. The FDA has approved Dimethyl Dicarbonate for use in food products under specified conditions.
Research has identified 1 area of health concern associated with Dimethyl Dicarbonate. Consumers with specific health conditions should consult a healthcare provider before consuming products containing this ingredient.
How Dimethyl Dicarbonate compares
Where a safety score of 4/5 falls among all 4,509 scored ingredients tracked on PlainIngredients.
Ingredients by safety score (Dimethyl Dicarbonate highlighted)
4,369 of 4,509 scored ingredients (96.9%) share a safety score of 4/5.
What is Dimethyl Dicarbonate?
DIMETHYL DICARBONATE is an organic compound which is a colorless liquid with a pungent odor at high concentration at room temperature. It is primarily used as a beverage preservative, processing aid, or sterilant
Health Concerns
- EFSA evaluation: Scientific opinion on the re-evaluation of dimethyl dicarbonate -DMDC, E 242- as a food additive
Common Uses
Processed foods, baked goods, beverages
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dimethyl Dicarbonate safe to consume?
Dimethyl Dicarbonate has a safety score of 4/5 (Low Risk). It is approved by the FDA for use in food. As with all food additives, moderation is advisable.
What is Dimethyl Dicarbonate used for in food?
Dimethyl Dicarbonate is commonly used as: Processed foods, baked goods, beverages. It belongs to the Preservative category of food additives.
Is Dimethyl Dicarbonate banned in any US states?
Currently, no US states have enacted specific bans or regulations targeting Dimethyl Dicarbonate. However, state food safety legislation is evolving rapidly.
What is the difference between FDA and EU regulation of Dimethyl Dicarbonate?
The FDA classifies Dimethyl Dicarbonate as "Approved", while the EU status is "Approved" (242). The FDA and EU use separate evaluation frameworks, the EU often applies the precautionary principle, sometimes banning additives that remain approved in the US. Always check both jurisdictions when evaluating food additive safety.
What health concerns are associated with Dimethyl Dicarbonate?
Research has identified the following health concerns for Dimethyl Dicarbonate: EFSA evaluation: Scientific opinion on the re-evaluation of dimethyl dicarbonate -DMDC, E 242- as a food additive. These findings inform its safety score of 4/5. Consult a healthcare provider for personalized guidance, especially if you have pre-existing conditions.
How is the safety score for Dimethyl Dicarbonate calculated?
The safety score of 4/5 for Dimethyl Dicarbonate is a composite assessment based on FDA regulatory status, EU approval status, published scientific research on health effects, and state-level legislative actions. A score of 1 means "Banned / Avoid" and 5 means "Generally Safe." The score is updated as new regulatory actions or scientific evidence emerge.
Data Sources
- FDA Substances Added to Food (SAFFA) Inventory
- EU Food Additive Regulations (EC) No 1333/2008
- State food safety legislation and bill records
Related Preservative Ingredients
What to do about Dimethyl Dicarbonate
Use the regulatory picture, not a single score, to decide.
- Check the FDA status (Approved) and EU status (Approved) before assuming it is risk-free. How we score
- Compare it against the most-restricted additives in the U.S. supply. View rankings
- Scan a whole ingredient label at once to flag the concerning entries. Label checker
Safety scores summarise regulatory status and published concerns; they are not medical or dietary advice.
Every figure on PlainIngredients is rendered directly from FDA, EU, EFSA and U.S. state regulatory records, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.