Food Additive · EU 297
Fumaric Acid
FDA status: Approved. EU: Approved. No U.S. state has enacted a specific ban yet.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Fumaric Acid 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. By tracked product count it ranks #56 of 417.
- #56 of 417 by tracked product prevalence
The verdict
Fumaric Acid is FDA-approved, and no U.S. state has moved to restrict it. By Open Food Facts product count it sits #56 of 417 among additives with tracked product presence (87th percentile).
- 4/5
- Low Risk
- Approved
- FDA status
- #56 of 417
- product-prevalence rank
- 0
- state regulations
Product-footprint and regulatory snapshot
Fumaric Acid: 914 tracked U.S. products (common band, #56 of 417) frame how often this additive appears on shelves.
| Property | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tracked Products | 914 · #56 of 417 | Open Food Facts (US) |
| FDA Status | Approved | FDA SAFFA |
| EU Status | Approved | EC 1333/2008 |
| E-Number | 297 | 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 Fumaric Acid?
Fumaric Acid is a food additive (297) classified as food additive.
Common Uses
Shelf-footprint peer axes
Nationwide peers for a common OFF footprint
Nearest OFF product-count peers (914 tracked here); safety-score column omitted on prevalence-led pages.
Nearest OFF product count to 914
Nearest other additives by Open Food Facts product count (floored at ≥50).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fumaric Acid safe to consume?
Fumaric Acid scores 4/5 (Low Risk). FDA status is Approved. On the Open Food Facts U.S. sample it is a common additive (914 tracked products, #56 of 417), so product footprint, not just the score label, frames how widely a shopper will meet it.
What is Fumaric Acid used for in food?
Fumaric Acid shows up as Various processed foods in the Food Additive class, and the OFF sample puts it in the common footprint band (914 products).
Where does Fumaric Acid sit among food additives PlainIngredients tracks?
Among additives with at least one tracked product, it ranks #56 of 417 by Open Food Facts product count. See /methodology#corpus-placement for the ranking bases.