Food Additive · CAS 102-71-6
Triethanolamine
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, Triethanolamine 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 #271 of 417.
- #271 of 417 by tracked product prevalence
The verdict
Triethanolamine is FDA-approved, and no U.S. state has moved to restrict it. By Open Food Facts product count it sits #271 of 417 among additives with tracked product presence (35th percentile).
- 4/5
- Low Risk
- Approved
- FDA status
- #271 of 417
- product-prevalence rank
- 0
- state regulations
Product-footprint and regulatory snapshot
Triethanolamine: 6 tracked U.S. products (moderate band, #271 of 417) frame how often this additive appears on shelves.
| Property | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tracked Products | 6 · #271 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 | 102-71-6 | 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 Triethanolamine?
Triethanolamine (CAS 102-71-6) is an FDA-regulated food substance used as malting or fermenting aid.
Common Uses
Shelf-footprint peer axes
Nationwide peers for a moderate OFF footprint
Nearest OFF product-count peers (6 tracked here); safety-score column omitted on prevalence-led pages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Triethanolamine safe to consume?
Triethanolamine scores 4/5 (Low Risk). FDA status is Approved. On the Open Food Facts U.S. sample it is a moderate additive (6 tracked products, #271 of 417), so product footprint, not just the score label, frames how widely a shopper will meet it.
What is Triethanolamine used for in food?
Triethanolamine shows up as malting or fermenting aid in the Food Additive class, and the OFF sample puts it in the moderate footprint band (6 products).
Where does Triethanolamine sit among food additives PlainIngredients tracks?
Among additives with at least one tracked product, it ranks #271 of 417 by Open Food Facts product count. See /methodology#corpus-placement for the ranking bases.