Amendment to the Enforcement Ordinance of the Food Sanitation Law and the
Standards and Specifications for Foods and Food Additives
The government of Japan will designate Triethyl citrate as an authorized food
additive.
Summary
Under Article 10 of the Food Sanitation Law (hereinafter referred to as the “Law”),
food additives shall not be used or marketed without authorization by the Minister of
Health, Labour and Welfare (hereinafter referred to as “the Minister”). In addition, when
specifications or standards are established for food additives based on Article 11 of the Law and
stipulated in the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Notification (Ministry of Health and
Welfare Notification No. 370, 1959), those additives shall not be used or marketed unless they
meet the standards or specifications.
In response to a request from the Minister, the Committee on Food Additives of the
Food Sanitation Council that is established under the Pharmaceutical Affairs and Food
Sanitation Council has discussed the adequacy of the designation of Triethyl citrate as a
food additive. The conclusion of the committee is outlined below.
Outline of conclusion
The Minister, based on Article 10 of the Law, should designate Triethyl citrate, as a
food additive unlikely to harm human health, and establish standards for use and
compositional specifications, based on Article 11 of the Law (see Attachment).Attachment
Triethyl Citrate
Standards for use
Triethyl citrate is permitted for use in the following products up to the corresponding
amounts given below.
Products not in conventional food form (in a capsule or tablet form only , except
chewable ones ) : 3.5 g/kg
Liquid or dried egg : 2.5 g/kg
Non-alcohol beverages : 0.2 g/kg (0.2 g/kg of dilution for products intended to be
consumed diluted)
Compositional specifications
Substance name Triethyl Citrate
Molecular formula C12H20O7
Molecular weight 276.28
Chemical name [CAS number]
1,2,3-Triethyl 2-hydroxypropane-1,2,3-tricarboxylate [77-93-0]
Content Triethyl Citrate contains not less than 99.0% of triethyl citrate (C 12H20O7).
Description Triethyl Citrate occurs as a colorless oily liquid. It is odorless or has a
slight characteristic odor.
Identification Determine the absorption spectrum of Triethyl Citrate as directed in the
Liquid Film Method under Infrared Spectrophotometry, and compare with the
Reference Spectrum. Both spectra exhibit similar intensities of absorption at the same
wavenumbers.
Purity
(1) Refractive index݊஽ଶ଴: 1.440–1.444.
(2) Specific gravity݀ଶହଶହ: 1.135–1.139.(3) Free acids Not more than 0.02 ％as citric acid.
Weigh exactly 32.0 g of Triethyl Citrate, add 30 ml of ethanol (95), and titrate with
0.1 mol/L potassium hydroxide. The amount of 0.1 mol/L potassium hydroxide
consumed is not more than 1.0 ml. Before the test, prepare ethanol (95) by adding
0.1 mol/L potassium hydroxide until the color of ethanol (95) is yellow-green using a
few drops of bromothymol blue as the indicator.
(4) Lead Not more than 2.0 g/g as Pb (0.5 g, Method 1).
(5) Arsenic Not more than 4.0 g/g as As 2O3(0.50 g, Method 1, Apparatus B).
Water Not more than 0.25% (5 g, Direct Titration).
Assay Proceed as directed in the Peak Area Percentage Method in the Gas
Chromatographic Assay under Flavor Substance Tests. Use operating conditions (1).
The column temperature should be raised to 230 C from 150 C at a rate of 5 C/minute
and maintained for 24 minutes.
Infrared Reference Spectra
Triethyl Citrate