Food Additive · EU 920
L-Cysteine
FDA status: Approved. EU: Approved. No U.S. state has enacted a specific ban yet.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, L-Cysteine 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 #114 of 417.
- #114 of 417 by tracked product prevalence
The verdict
L-Cysteine is FDA-approved, and no U.S. state has moved to restrict it. By Open Food Facts product count it sits #114 of 417 among additives with tracked product presence (73rd percentile).
- 4/5
- Low Risk
- Approved
- FDA status
- #114 of 417
- product-prevalence rank
- 0
- state regulations
Product-footprint and regulatory snapshot
L-Cysteine: 170 tracked U.S. products (common band, #114 of 417) frame how often this additive appears on shelves.
| Property | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tracked Products | 170 · #114 of 417 | Open Food Facts (US) |
| FDA Status | Approved | FDA SAFFA |
| EU Status | Approved | EC 1333/2008 |
| E-Number | 920 | 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 L-Cysteine?
L-Cysteine is a food additive (920) classified as food additive.
Common Uses
Shelf-footprint peer axes
Nationwide peers for a common OFF footprint
Nearest OFF product-count peers (170 tracked here); safety-score column omitted on prevalence-led pages.
Nearest OFF product count to 170
Nearest other additives by Open Food Facts product count (floored at ≥50).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is L-Cysteine safe to consume?
L-Cysteine scores 4/5 (Low Risk). FDA status is Approved. On the Open Food Facts U.S. sample it is a common additive (170 tracked products, #114 of 417), so product footprint, not just the score label, frames how widely a shopper will meet it.
What is L-Cysteine used for in food?
L-Cysteine shows up as Various processed foods in the Food Additive class, and the OFF sample puts it in the common footprint band (170 products).
Where does L-Cysteine sit among food additives PlainIngredients tracks?
Among additives with at least one tracked product, it ranks #114 of 417 by Open Food Facts product count. See /methodology#corpus-placement for the ranking bases.