The United States will approve the use of benzoic acid, sodium benzoate and sodium propionate in meat and poultry products.

According to the US government website, the US Department of Agriculture Food Safety Inspection Agency (FSIS) recently issued a final regulation to amend the federal meat and poultry product inspection regulations, approving the use of benzoic acid, sodium benzoate and sodium propionate in meat and poultry products.

 

 

This final regulation will come into force on May 6. This final regulation stipulates that when sodium propionate is used as a single antimicrobial agent in meat and poultry products, the maximum amount is 0.5% (by weight); when sodium benzoate is used as a single antimicrobial agent in meat and poultry products, the maximum amount is 0.1%; and when benzoic acid is used as a food ingredient in meat and poultry products, the maximum amount is 0.1%.

 

 

According to the US FSIS, both FDA and FSIS have evaluated the data and agreed that the use of the three substances in meat and poultry products will not affect the health of consumers, including children.