Classification
Product TypeIngredient
Product FormCrystalline solid (powder)
Industry PositionFood Additive (Antioxidant)
Market
Thiodipropionic acid is a synthetic antioxidant used in food applications under regulatory conditions and is identified in the Codex/JECFA system as INS 388. Its global trade is primarily specification- and compliance-driven, with buyers referencing JECFA identity/purity monographs and national rules that govern permitted use and labelling. In the United States it is listed as generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for use in food when the total antioxidant content does not exceed a limit expressed relative to the fat or oil content of the food. Market access and usage patterns are therefore shaped more by regulatory acceptance and quality assurance than by agricultural seasonality.
Specification
Physical Attributes- White crystalline solid with a slight characteristic odour (JECFA monograph specification).
- Soluble in water; freely soluble in ethanol (JECFA monograph specification).
Compositional Metrics- INS number: 388 (JECFA).
- CAS number: 111-17-1 (JECFA; NIST).
- Chemical formula: C6H10O4S; formula weight 178.21 (JECFA monograph specification).
- Assay: not less than 98.5% (JECFA monograph specification).
- Melting range: 130–134°C (JECFA monograph specification).
- Sulfur: 17.5%–18.5% (JECFA monograph specification).
- Sulfated ash: not more than 0.2% (JECFA monograph specification).
- Selenium: not more than 30 mg/kg; Lead: not more than 2 mg/kg (JECFA monograph specification).
Grades- JECFA food additive specification (FAO JECFA Monographs) used as a reference for identity and purity in international transactions.
ProcessingFunctional use: antioxidant (JECFA; FAO monograph).Use in food may be subject to limits expressed as a maximum total antioxidant content relative to the fat or oil content of the food (e.g., U.S. GRAS listings).
Supply Chain
Value Chain- Chemical manufacture and purification to meet food additive identity/purity specifications (e.g., JECFA monograph assay and impurity limits) -> quality control testing -> packaging -> distribution to food ingredient/additive blenders -> controlled dosing into fat- and oil-containing foods where permitted.
Demand Drivers- Need to inhibit oxidative rancidity in fat- and oil-containing foods and related formulations.
- Buyer requirements for specification conformance (assay, impurity limits) and jurisdiction-specific regulatory acceptance.
Risks
Regulatory Compliance HighMarket access and allowable use depend on jurisdiction-specific permissions and limits for thiodipropionic acid (INS 388). Non-compliance risk includes exceeding allowed use levels (often defined relative to fat/oil content), using non-compliant grades, or failing local additive-list requirements, which can lead to border rejections or product recalls.Confirm destination-market permissions and conditions of use for INS 388 and align formulations and labelling; procure material that conforms to JECFA specifications and verify by COA/independent testing.
Food Safety MediumImpurity control is a key risk driver for synthetic antioxidants; JECFA specifications include limits for metals (e.g., lead) and other purity parameters, and deviations can create compliance and safety issues.Implement incoming QC against JECFA monograph parameters (assay, melting range, sulfated ash, selenium, lead) and maintain supplier qualification and batch traceability.
Quality Variability MediumFunctional performance in oxidative stability programs can be sensitive to assay strength and consistency, as well as compatibility with the target fat/oil system and other antioxidants; variability can drive shelf-life outcomes and customer claims.Specify minimum assay and key identity tests per JECFA monograph; validate performance in the intended matrix and control dosing under GMP.
FAQ
What is thiodipropionic acid used for in foods?It is used as an antioxidant (INS 388) to help slow oxidation in food systems, particularly those where use levels are expressed relative to the fat or oil content of the food under applicable regulations.
What is the INS (Codex/JECFA) number for thiodipropionic acid?JECFA lists thiodipropionic acid as INS 388.
What specifications are commonly referenced for food-grade thiodipropionic acid?FAO/JECFA monographs provide identity and purity specifications, including assay not less than 98.5%, a defined melting range (130–134°C), sulfur content criteria, and impurity limits such as lead and selenium.
Has JECFA established an acceptable daily intake (ADI) for thiodipropionic acid?Yes. The WHO JECFA database lists an ADI of 0–3 mg/kg body weight for thiodipropionic acid, with the latest evaluation year shown as 1973.