Overview

Nitrous oxide is widely used as a food additive. It’s the best whipping propellant for food grade aerosols. People can make perfect cream with very easy tools such as cream dispenser.

Main official organizations in the world publish the standard for the food additive nitrous oxide including WHO/FAO, FDA, CE and GB. Because nitrous oxide was eaten as food by people.

However, there are 2 main methods to produce nitrous oxide. Only one methed is approved by all the standards. 

The food-grade nitrous oxide has to be produce by the thermal decomposition of ammonium nitrate.

INS No. 942 of WHO/FAO

FAO/WHO published the standard at 74th JECFA(2011) for nitrous oxide using as food additive (INS No. 942). In the report, the definition of nitrous oxide is as below:

“Nitrous oxide, a colourless and non-flammable gas, commonly known as laughing gas, is manufactured by the controlled heating of ammonium nitrate, at temperatures 170-240°……”

And it also stipulated more specifications:

“Assay: not less than 99%(v/v)
Carbon monxide: not more than 10 μl/l
Nitric oxide: not more than 1 μl/l
Nitrigen dioxide: not more than 1 μl/l
Halogens (as Cl): not more than 5 μl/l
……”
 Click to read details of the report.

FDA 21CFR184.1545

FDA published nitrous oxide standard as the right picture. In this file, it also defined nitrous oxide as below:

“Nitrous oxide (empirical formula N2O, CAS reg. No. 10024-97-2) is also known as dinitrogen monoxide or laughing gas. It’s is a colorless gas, about 50 percent heavier than air, with a slightly sweet smell. It does not burn but will support combustion. Nitrous oxide is manufactured by the thermal decomposition of ammonium nitrate……”

There are also more ruls in the file:

“The ingredient must be of a purity suitable of it’s intended use.
In accordance with§ 184.1(b)(1), the ingredient is used in food with no limitations other than current good manufacturing practice……”

Click to read details of the file

GB 1886.350-2021

On Sep 7th of 2021, China government published the national standard GB 1886.350-2021: Food additive nitrous oxide. And it will be implemented from March 7th of 2022. The first clause is as below:

“1, Scope: the standard applies to the food additive nitrous oxide produced by thermal decomposition of ammonium nitrate.“

There are also various rules which are similar as WHO/FAO INS No. 942.

It’s a very important standard and will affect China market a lot. Many factories have to stop production because they use tail gas to produce nitrous oxide. But customers don’t know about it.