Sülfürik asit

Detailed information

What it is & how it is made

A strong inorganic acid. As a food additive it is produced synthetically by the contact process from elemental sulphur, spent acid or hydrogen sulphide.

Where it is used

Used as an acidity regulator. Its use is restricted under EU law and, within the same framework as the Turkish Food Codex, it is permitted only for certain processing purposes (under Annex III).

Health note

EFSA re-evaluated sulphuric acid and its salts in 2019 and concluded that a numerical acceptable daily intake (ADI) was not required; no safety concern was identified at the reported uses. The main effect is a laxative effect at high doses, and estimated intakes are far below the 300 mg/kg dose at which laxation was observed in humans.

Halal assessment

Its manufacture is entirely synthetic and mineral based, and no animal input is reported. The carrier or processing aid in the finished product may differ, so consult the manufacturer's halal certificate for a definitive answer.