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Azodicarbonamide, or azobisformamide, is an organic chemical, ₂₄₂₄. It is a yellow to orange red, odorless, crystalline powder. It is known as E number E927.

Use as a food additive

It is used in food industry as a food additive, a flour bleaching agent and improving agent. When it reacts with flour, it behaves as a hydrogen acceptor, and is quickly and completely converted to biurea, which is stable even during baking. The reaction occurs only during wetting of the dough. In the United States, acceptable doses for flour treatment range between 0-45 ppm.

Use of azodicarbonamide as a food additive is banned in Australia and in Europe. In Singapore, the use of azodicarbonamide can result in up to 15 years imprisonment and a fine of $450,000.

Other uses

Azodicarbonamide is also used in the production of foamed plastics and the manufacture of gaskets.

Safety

In the UK, the Health and Safety Executive has identified azodicarbonamide as a respiratory sensitiser (a possible cause of asthma) and determined that products should be labeled with "May cause sensitisation by inhalation.

Azodicarbonamide may cause an allergic reaction in those sensitive to other azo compounds (such as food dyes). The consumption of azodicarbonamide may also heighten an allergic reaction to other ingredients in a food.

See also

• Semicarbazide

References