FDA Status
GRAS
Acidity Regulator · CAS 50-21-5 · EU E270
Lactic Acid
FDA status: GRAS. EU: Approved. No U.S. state has enacted a specific ban yet.
5.0 / 5
Composite safety Generally Safe
Score 5 of 5
Lactic Acid: 5/5 (Generally Safe)
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Lactic Acid is classified GRAS by the FDA, and no U.S. state has moved to restrict it independently of federal policy. Its composite safety score is 5 out of 5 (Generally Safe), and the European Union separately classifies it as approved. It is a top-5% most widely-used additive.
- 98th percentile by tracked product prevalence
The verdict
Lactic Acid is classified GRAS by the FDA, and no U.S. state has moved to restrict it. It is a top-5% most widely-used additive (98th percentile by tracked product count).
- 5/5
- Generally Safe
- GRAS
- FDA status
- 98th pctile
- by product prevalence
- 0
- state regulations
Lactic Acid (E270), CAS 50-21-5, is a acidity regulator additive holding a composite safety score of 5 out of 5 (Generally Safe). According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Substances Added to Food inventory, it is currently classified as GRAS, while the European Union lists it as Approved. This ingredient appears in approximately 3,851 tracked food products across our database. It is most commonly used as Yogurt, sauerkraut, beer, cheese.
No U.S. state has enacted specific legislation targeting Lactic Acid 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 Lactic Acid, which factors directly into the assigned safety score. 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 | GRAS | FDA SAFFA |
| EU Status | Approved | EC 1333/2008 |
| E-Number | E270 | EU additive register |
| CAS Number | 50-21-5 | CAS Registry |
| Category | Acidity Regulator | FDA functional class |
| Composite Safety Score | 5 / 5 (Generally Safe) | PlainIngredients methodology |
| EFSA ADI | Not established | EFSA scientific opinion |
| U.S. State Actions | 0 states | State legislative records |
| Tracked Products | 3,851 | 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
E270
U.S. State Regulations
0 states
None enacted
Safety Assessment
Lactic Acid's 5/5 (Generally Safe) score reflects where this specific ingredient lands on that scale. The FDA classifies Lactic Acid as "Generally Recognized As Safe" (GRAS), meaning qualified experts consider it safe under intended conditions of use.
Research has identified 1 area of health concern associated with Lactic Acid. Consumers with specific health conditions should consult a healthcare provider before consuming products containing this ingredient.
How Lactic Acid compares
Where a safety score of 5/5 falls among all 4,509 scored ingredients tracked on PlainIngredients.
Ingredients by safety score (Lactic Acid highlighted)
31 of 4,509 scored ingredients (0.7%) share a safety score of 5/5.
What is Lactic Acid?
Naturally produced during fermentation.
Health Concerns
- Safe. Produced naturally by human body.
Common Uses
Yogurt, sauerkraut, beer, cheese
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lactic Acid safe to consume?
Lactic Acid has a safety score of 5/5 (Generally Safe). It is approved by the FDA for use in food. As with all food additives, moderation is advisable.
What is Lactic Acid used for in food?
Lactic Acid is commonly used as: Yogurt, sauerkraut, beer, cheese. It belongs to the Acidity Regulator category of food additives.
Is Lactic Acid banned in any US states?
Currently, no US states have enacted specific bans or regulations targeting Lactic Acid. However, state food safety legislation is evolving rapidly.
What is the difference between FDA and EU regulation of Lactic Acid?
The FDA classifies Lactic Acid as "GRAS", while the EU status is "Approved" (E270). 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 Lactic Acid?
Research has identified the following health concerns for Lactic Acid: Safe. Produced naturally by human body.. These findings inform its safety score of 5/5. Consult a healthcare provider for personalized guidance, especially if you have pre-existing conditions.
How is the safety score for Lactic Acid calculated?
The safety score of 5/5 for Lactic Acid 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 Acidity Regulator Ingredients
What to do about Lactic Acid
Use the regulatory picture, not a single score, to decide.
- Check the FDA status (GRAS) 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.