Food Categories

Food Additives

Functional Classes

Glossary

Sodium hydroxide (524)

Synonyms: Caustic soda, Lye, Sodium hydrate

Functional Classes: Acidity regulator

Click here to search the FAO JECFA database for the specifications of additive(s) with INS No. 524

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GSFA Provisions for Sodium hydroxide

N°

Food Category

Max Level

Notes

02.2.1.0

Butter

GMP

N°

02.2.1.0

Food Category

Butter

Max Level

GMP

Notes

13.2.0.0

Complementary foods for infants and young children

GMP

239: Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Canned Baby Foods (CODEX STAN 73-1981).

319: Within the limit for sodium listed in the Codex Standard for Canned Baby Food (CODEX STAN 73-1981) for foods corresponding to that standard : singly or in combination with other sodium containing additives.

320: Within the limit for sodium listed in the Codex Standard for Processed Cereal-based Foods for Infants and Young Children (CODEX STAN 74-1981) for foods corresponding to that standard : singly or in combination with other sodium containing additives.

N°

13.2.0.0

Food Category

Complementary foods for infants and young children

Max Level

GMP

Notes

01.8.2.0

Dried whey and whey products, excluding whey cheeses

GMP

N°

01.8.2.0

Food Category

Dried whey and whey products, excluding whey cheeses

Max Level

GMP

Notes

01.2.1.2

Fermented milks (plain), heat-treated after fermentation

GMP

N°

01.2.1.2

Food Category

Fermented milks (plain), heat-treated after fermentation

Max Level

GMP

Notes

13.1.2.0

Follow-up formulae

GMP

316: Within the limit for sodium specified in the Codex Standard for Follow-up Formulae (CODEX STAN 156-1987): singly or in combination with other sodium containing additives.

72: On the ready-to-eat basis.

N°

13.1.2.0

Food Category

Follow-up formulae

Max Level

GMP

Notes

13.1.3.0

Formulae for special medical purposes for infants

2000 mg/kg

55: Within the limits for sodium, calcium, and potassium specified in the Standard for Infant Formula and Formula for Special Dietary Purposes Intended for Infants (CODEX STAN 72-1981): singly or in combination with other sodium, calcium, and/or potassium salts.

72: On the ready-to-eat basis.

N°

13.1.3.0

Food Category

Formulae for special medical purposes for infants

Max Level

2000 mg/kg

Notes

13.1.1.0

Infant formulae

2000 mg/kg

N°

13.1.1.0

Food Category

Infant formulae

Max Level

2000 mg/kg

Notes

01.1.2.0

Other fluid milk (plain)

GMP

410: Excluding lactose reduced milks.

N°

01.1.2.0

Food Category

Other fluid milk (plain)

Max Level

GMP

Notes

410: Excluding lactose reduced milks.

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Note: Unless otherwise specified, food additive provisions apply to the food category indicated (e.g. Dairy), as well as to all subcategories of that category (e.g. Cheese, Ripened Cheese, etc.).

GSFA Table 3 Provisions

Sodium hydroxide is a food additive that is included in Table 3, and as such may be used in the following foods under the conditions of good manufacturing practices (GMP) as outlined in the Preamble of the Codex GSFA. Although not listed below, Sodium hydroxide could also be used in heat-treated butter milk of food category 01.1.1 and spices of food category 12.2.1.
Note that food categories listed in the Annex to Table 3 were excluded accordingly.

Sodium hydroxide is acceptable in foods conforming to the following commodity standards: CS 87-1981, CS 105-1981, CS 141-1983.

Sodium hydroxide is a: Acidity regulator.
Any Acidity regulator listed in Table 3 can be acceptable for use in all products conforming to CS 117-1981, CS 309R-2011, CS 291-2010, CS 319-2015, CS 256-2007.