Nutrient Supplement · CAS 541-15-1
L-carnitine
FDA status: Approved. EU: not separately listed. No U.S. state has enacted a specific ban yet.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, L-carnitine 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). By tracked product count it ranks #212 of 417.
- #212 of 417 by tracked product prevalence
The verdict
L-carnitine is FDA-approved, and no U.S. state has moved to restrict it. By Open Food Facts product count it sits #212 of 417 among additives with tracked product presence (47th percentile).
- 4/5
- Low Risk
- Approved
- FDA status
- #212 of 417
- product-prevalence rank
- 0
- state regulations
Product-footprint and regulatory snapshot
L-carnitine: 15 tracked U.S. products (moderate band, #212 of 417) frame how often this additive appears on shelves.
| Property | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tracked Products | 15 · #212 of 417 | Open Food Facts (US) |
| FDA Status | Approved | FDA SAFFA |
| EU Status | Not separately listed | EC 1333/2008 |
| E-Number | - | EU additive register |
| CAS Number | 541-15-1 | CAS Registry |
| Category | Nutrient Supplement | 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 L-carnitine?
L-carnitine (CAS 541-15-1) is an FDA-regulated food substance used as nutrient supplement":.
Common Uses
Shelf-footprint peer axes
Nationwide peers for a moderate OFF footprint
Nearest OFF product-count peers (15 tracked here); safety-score column omitted on prevalence-led pages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is L-carnitine safe to consume?
L-carnitine scores 4/5 (Low Risk). FDA status is Approved. On the Open Food Facts U.S. sample it is a moderate additive (15 tracked products, #212 of 417), so product footprint, not just the score label, frames how widely a shopper will meet it.
What is L-carnitine used for in food?
L-carnitine shows up as nutrient supplement": in the Nutrient Supplement class, and the OFF sample puts it in the moderate footprint band (15 products).
Where does L-carnitine sit among food additives PlainIngredients tracks?
Among additives with at least one tracked product, it ranks #212 of 417 by Open Food Facts product count. See /methodology#corpus-placement for the ranking bases.