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Azodicarbonamide

Also known as: E927a

Banned

Azodicarbonamide breaks down during baking to semicarbazide (SEM), which has shown tumor-promoting activity in some rodent studies. The European Union, UK, and Australia have banned ADA as a food additive.

Found in

1,143 products

E-number

E927a

What it is

Azodicarbonamide (ADA): synthetic chemical used as a flour bleaching agent and dough conditioner.

Flour aging/bleaching agent; dough strengthener (45 ppm max in flour).

Why it's flagged

banned in EU, UK, Australia, Singapore
breakdown product semicarbazide is a possible animal carcinogen
respiratory sensitizer in occupational exposure

What regulators actually say

"Azodicarbonamide may be safely used in food in accordance with the following prescribed conditions: ... The additive is used as an aging and bleaching ingredient in cereal flour in an amount not to exceed 0.0045 percent (45 parts per million) by weight of the flour."

21 CFR 172.806 - Azodicarbonamide — accessdata.fda.gov

"FDA approved the use of ADA as a food additive in cereal flour and as a dough conditioner... During bread making, ADA completely breaks down to form other chemicals, one of which is SEM."

FDA - Azodicarbonamide (ADA) Frequently Asked Questions — fda.gov

Regulatory status

United States — FDA

Permitted up to 45 ppm in flour (21 CFR 172.806).

European Union — EFSA

BANNED in EU as a food additive (Regulation 1333/2008).

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