Emulsifier · CAS 151-21-3
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
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, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate 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 #163 of 417.
- #163 of 417 by tracked product prevalence
The verdict
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is FDA-approved, and no U.S. state has moved to restrict it. By Open Food Facts product count it sits #163 of 417 among additives with tracked product presence (61st percentile).
- 4/5
- Low Risk
- Approved
- FDA status
- #163 of 417
- product-prevalence rank
- 0
- state regulations
Product-footprint and regulatory snapshot
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate: 45 tracked U.S. products (moderate band, #163 of 417) frame how often this additive appears on shelves.
| Property | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tracked Products | 45 · #163 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 | 151-21-3 | CAS Registry |
| Category | Emulsifier | 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 Sodium Lauryl Sulfate?
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (CAS 151-21-3) is an FDA-regulated food substance used as emulsifier or emulsifier salt, surface-active agent.
Common Uses
Shelf-footprint peer axes
Nationwide peers for a moderate OFF footprint
Nearest OFF product-count peers (45 tracked here); safety-score column omitted on prevalence-led pages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sodium Lauryl Sulfate safe to consume?
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate scores 4/5 (Low Risk). FDA status is Approved. On the Open Food Facts U.S. sample it is a moderate additive (45 tracked products, #163 of 417), so product footprint, not just the score label, frames how widely a shopper will meet it.
What is Sodium Lauryl Sulfate used for in food?
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate shows up as emulsifier or emulsifier salt, surface-active agent in the Emulsifier class, and the OFF sample puts it in the moderate footprint band (45 products).
Where does Sodium Lauryl Sulfate sit among food additives PlainIngredients tracks?
Among additives with at least one tracked product, it ranks #163 of 417 by Open Food Facts product count. See /methodology#corpus-placement for the ranking bases.