Antioxidant · EU 942
Nitrous Oxide
FDA status: Approved. EU: Approved. No U.S. state has enacted a specific ban yet.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Nitrous Oxide 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 #323 of 417.
- #323 of 417 by tracked product prevalence
The verdict
Nitrous Oxide is FDA-approved, and no U.S. state has moved to restrict it. By Open Food Facts product count it sits #323 of 417 among additives with tracked product presence (20th percentile).
- 4/5
- Low Risk
- Approved
- FDA status
- #323 of 417
- product-prevalence rank
- 0
- state regulations
Regulatory snapshot
Nitrous Oxide: composite 4/5 (Low Risk) with FDA Approved and EU Approved.
| Property | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| FDA Status | Approved | FDA SAFFA |
| EU Status | Approved | EC 1333/2008 |
| E-Number | 942 | EU additive register |
| CAS Number | - | CAS Registry |
| Category | Antioxidant | 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 |
| Tracked Products | 3 | 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.
What is Nitrous Oxide?
Nitrous Oxide is a food additive (942) classified as antioxidant.
Common Uses
Catalog-profile peer axes
Nationwide catalog-profile peers for Nitrous Oxide
Product-count (3) and safety-score (4/5) peer columns, disjoint link sets.
Score 4/5 peers (≥50 OFF products)
Nearest other additives by PlainIngredients safety score (floored at ≥50 tracked products), distinct from the count row.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nitrous Oxide safe to consume?
Nitrous Oxide scores 4/5 (Low Risk). FDA status is Approved. In the lower-concern band the federal listing is the primary signal; EU status is Approved. Moderation still applies to any additive.
What is Nitrous Oxide used for in food?
Nitrous Oxide is commonly used as: Oils, fats, processed foods, baked goods. It belongs to the Antioxidant category of food additives.
Where does Nitrous Oxide sit among food additives PlainIngredients tracks?
Among additives with at least one tracked product, it ranks #323 of 417 by Open Food Facts product count. See /methodology#corpus-placement for the ranking bases.