Thickener · CAS 63-42-3
Lactose
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, Lactose 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 #44 of 417.
- #44 of 417 by tracked product prevalence
The verdict
Lactose is FDA-approved, and no U.S. state has moved to restrict it. By Open Food Facts product count it sits #44 of 417 among additives with tracked product presence (89th percentile).
- 4/5
- Low Risk
- Approved
- FDA status
- #44 of 417
- product-prevalence rank
- 0
- state regulations
Product-footprint and regulatory snapshot
Lactose: 1,271 tracked U.S. products (common band, #44 of 417) frame how often this additive appears on shelves.
| Property | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tracked Products | 1,271 · #44 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 | 63-42-3 | CAS Registry |
| Category | Thickener | 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 Lactose?
Lactose (CAS 63-42-3) is an FDA-regulated food substance used as flavor enhancer, flavoring agent or adjuvant, formulation aid, lubricant or release agent, malting o.
Common Uses
Shelf-footprint peer axes
Nationwide peers for a common OFF footprint
Nearest OFF product-count peers (1,271 tracked here); safety-score column omitted on prevalence-led pages.
Nearest OFF product count to 1,271
Nearest other additives by Open Food Facts product count (floored at ≥50).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lactose safe to consume?
Lactose scores 4/5 (Low Risk). FDA status is Approved. On the Open Food Facts U.S. sample it is a common additive (1,271 tracked products, #44 of 417), so product footprint, not just the score label, frames how widely a shopper will meet it.
What is Lactose used for in food?
Lactose shows up as flavor enhancer, flavoring agent or adjuvant, formulation aid, lubricant or release agent, malting or fermenting aid, nutritive sweetener, oxidizing or reducing agent, solvent or vehicle, stabilizer o in the Thickener class, and the OFF sample puts it in the common footprint band (1,271 products).
Where does Lactose sit among food additives PlainIngredients tracks?
Among additives with at least one tracked product, it ranks #44 of 417 by Open Food Facts product count. See /methodology#corpus-placement for the ranking bases.