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E939
Helyum
E-number category
Glazing agent, gas, sweetener
Detailed information
- What it is & how it is made
- A chemically inert monatomic noble gas; it is extracted from natural gas deposits by cryogenic processes, and crude helium of 60-80% purity is refined to 99.99% purity by removing hydrogen, oxygen and water.
- Where it is used
- Used as a packaging gas and propellant. In the EU it is authorised at quantum satis in all food categories, including foods for infants and young children, and it also appears in the lists of the Turkish Food Codex Regulation on Food Additives.
- Health note
- In its 2024 re-evaluation (EFSA Journal 2024;22(10):9048) EFSA assessed helium together with argon, concluding that because of its physicochemical properties it is of low toxicological concern and that its use as a food additive does not raise a safety concern. The Panel noted that the existing specifications require a minimum purity of 99.0%.
- Halal assessment
- Its source is natural gas deposits; production is a physical separation and purification process, and no animal input is reported. Consult the manufacturer's halal certificate for a definitive answer.
Products containing this additive (0)
No recorded product contains this additive yet.
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Get in touch for consultancyThis information is for general guidance only; it is not a halal certificate or a religious ruling. For the definitive status, refer to the manufacturer's halal certificate.