Additives
Benzoyl Peroxide (E928): What It Is and Is It Safe?
Limited risk
Flour Treatment Agent · Bleaching agent
Benzoyl peroxide is a flour bleaching agent that oxidises carotenoid pigments to whiten flour, decomposing to benzoic acid in the process. JECFA has evaluated it, and it is permitted as a flour bleach in the US and some countries but not authorised in the EU or UK. In handling it is a skin and eye irritant and a contact sensitiser.
- Category
- Flour Treatment Agent — Bleaching agent
- Typically used in
- Flour bleaching agent in the US and some countries.
- Regulatory status
- Not authorised as a food additive in the EU/UK; permitted for flour bleaching in the US and some countries.
- Concerns flagged
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Possible allergen
Scrannr flags Benzoyl Peroxide automatically when you scan a barcode.
Sources
Where this comes from
- JECFA FAO (2004) — Chemical and Technical Assessment Benzoyl Peroxide 61st JECFA https://www.fao.org/fileadmin/templates/agns/pdf/jecfa/cta/63/Benzoylperoxide.pdf
- FAO WHO GSFA (2021) — GSFA Online Food Additive Details for Benzoyl peroxide https://www.fao.org/gsfaonline/additives/details.html?id=219
Products
Products containing Benzoyl Peroxide
We're building product pages that show real UK products containing Benzoyl Peroxide, using Open Food Facts data. They'll appear here soon — in the meantime, scan any barcode with the Scrannr app to check for it instantly.
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