Potassium ferrocyanide
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Description
The food additive E536, known as potassium ferrocyanide, is an inorganic compound primarily used as an anticaking agent in food products, especially table salt and its substitutes. Its function is to prevent clumping, maintaining the product's flowability. It is a pale yellow crystalline solid, soluble in water, belonging to the ferrocyanide group.
Industrially, it is obtained by reacting hydrogen cyanide with iron and potassium salts, or as a byproduct in the production of synthesis gas. Although its name may cause alarm due to the presence of cyanide, ferrocyanide is a stable complex that does not release free cyanide under normal use conditions.
It was approved as a food additive in the European Union after evaluations by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the World Health Organization (WHO). EFSA established an Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) of 0.025 mg/kg body weight, based on chronic toxicity studies. WHO, through the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), also considers it safe within established limits. Regarding food safety, potassium ferrocyanide does not accumulate in the body and is rapidly excreted.
However, there are controversies about its use due to the negative perception associated with cyanide, although scientific studies have not shown significant adverse effects at authorized doses. The labeling of products containing E536 must indicate its name or E number, complying with European regulations.
In summary, E536 is an effective and safe additive when used within legal limits.
E536 is mainly used as an anticaking agent in table salt and low-sodium salts. It is also used in salt substitutes, seasonings, and some processed meat products.
In the Spanish market, it is commonly found in brands of fine salt and sea salt, as well as flavored salts. Regulation EC 1333/2008 sets a maximum limit of 20 mg/kg (expressed as anhydrous potassium ferrocyanide) in salt and its substitutes. In the United States, the FDA allows it as an indirect additive but is not approved for direct use in foods, unlike the EU. In Japan, its use is restricted to certain products. The typical dose in foods is very low, ensuring that daily intake is well below the ADI.
Toxicological studies conducted by EFSA and JECFA have not documented significant adverse effects in humans at authorized doses. Potassium ferrocyanide is a stable complex that does not release free cyanide in the gastrointestinal tract. In animal studies, renal effects were observed only at very high doses, far above human exposure.
No specific allergies or intolerances have been reported. Sensitive populations such as individuals with renal insufficiency may have reduced excretion, but the amounts ingested are minimal. No interactions with medications are known.
EFSA concludes that there is no risk to public health at current use levels. The main controversy is one of perception, not scientific, due to the name including 'cyanide'.
- Potassium ferrocyanide
- Potassium hexacyanoferrate (II)
- Yellow prussiate of potash
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