Acetic Acid is Now an Acceptable Food Additive in Infant Formulas

By: Joanna Chudyk, Regulatory Affairs Specialist, email

February 27, 2023: the Food Directorate announced an update to the List of Permitted Food Additives with Other Accepted Uses. It now permits the use of Acetic Acid as a crystallization aid and washing agent for 2′-fucosyllactose (2′-FL).

2′-FL is an ingredient commonly used in infant formulas and nutritional supplements for children under the age of 3 years. The maximum level of use permitted is according to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), however, there are restrictions on the presence of Acetic Acid residues. There should be no more than 1% of residues in 2’-FL and 12 ppm in the food as consumed.

These changes come from a petitioner requesting the expansion of Acetic Acid use in other food categories through a Food Additive Submission. This process involves a pre-market assessment by the Food Directorate of all potential risks associated with the proposed change. It is intended to allow for the List of Permitted Food Additives to continue expanding as more scientific data becomes available.

The safety of Acetic Acid is supported and the ingredient is already used in a variety of other food products as a:

  • pH adjuster (cold-pack cheese, gelatin, or canned asparagus); or
  • Class I preservative (preserved fish or meat products).

Do you have questions about Food Labelling? Are you interested in filing a Food Additive Submission?

Contact Dell Tech today! Working with our team of experts is your simple solution to all things Canadian Food Regulations compliance.

Contact:
Dell Tech
Joanna Chudyk, M. Sc. 
Regulatory Affairs Specialist
joanna@delltech.com


Dell Tech has provided professional, confidential consulting services to the specialty chemical 

industry in Canada, the USA, Europe, and Asia for the last 40 years.

Contact us today for more information.

www.delltech.com

SHARE:

Recent Posts

image

PMRA Data Protection in Canada: Exclusive vs. Compensable Data Explained

In Canada, pesticide data protection is a critical component of the regulatory framework administered by the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA). Health Canada, as the federal agency responsible for pesticide…
image

DHPID Updates for GMP Inspections

Recently last year in October 2025, Health Canada released an update to the Drug and Health Product Inspection Database (DHPID) which now supports the search of inspection results by Site License…
image

CEPA Compliance Cosmetics Canada: Guidelines You Shouldn’t Miss

Cosmetic regulation in Canada is evolving, and enforcement is catching up. A Cosmetic Notification Form alone is no longer enough. In the past two years, Environment and Climate Change Canada…

Have Questions About Regulatory Compliance?

If you’re unsure what your next steps should be, check our frequently asked questions page or contact us today.