Food additives propionic acid and sodium propionate permitted in ready-to-eat meat and poultry meat products - Reference Number: NOM/ADM-0112 

Notice of Modification to the List of Permitted Preservatives to Enable the Use of Propionic Acid and Sodium Propionate as Preservatives in Ready-to-Eat Meat Products and Ready-to-Eat Poultry Meat Products - Reference Number: NOM/ADM-0112

Background

Health Canada's Food Directorate received a food additive submission seeking approval for the use of propionic acid and sodium propionate as preservatives in ready-to-eat meat products and ready-to-eat poultry meat products to control the growth of the pathogen Listeria monocytogenes in these foods. 

Both additives were already permitted for use as preservatives in certain other foods.  The Food Directorate did not identify any safety concerns with permitting their use as Class II preservatives in ready-to-eat meat products and ready-to-eat poultry meat products.  Therefore, as explained in the Notice of Modification (see “Information Document” below), Health Canada has enabled the use of propionic acid and sodium propionate in these foods by modifying Part 2 of the List of Permitted Preservatives, effective April 4, 2018.

The purpose of this communication is to publically announce the Department's decision in this regard and to provide contact information for inquiries or for those wishing to submit new scientific information relevant to the safety of these food additives.

Information Document

To obtain an electronic copy of the Notice of Modification to the List of Permitted Preservatives to Enable the Use of Propionic Acid and Sodium Propionate as Preservatives in Ready-to-Eat Meat Products and Ready-to-Eat Poultry Meat Products - Reference Number: NOM/ADM-0112, please contact our publications office or send an e-mail to publications@hc-sc.gc.ca with the subject heading "HPFB BCS NOM-ADM-0112-ENG".

Contact Information

Health Canada's Food Directorate is committed to reviewing any new scientific information on the safety in use of any food additive, including propionic acid and sodium propionate. Anyone wishing to submit new scientific information on the use of these additives or to submit any inquiries may do so in writing, by regular mail or electronically. If you wish to contact the Food Directorate electronically, please use the words "propionic acid and sodium propionate (NOM-0112)" in the subject line of your e-mail.

Bureau of Chemical Safety, Food Directorate

Supporting Information

Food Additives