Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
What Is It?
Aluminum StarchA complex carbohydrate widely distributed among plants. It is the chief storage form of carbohydrates in plants. Octenylsuccinate is a modified starch. Starch is a complex carbohydrate made by plants. In cosmetics and personal care products, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate is used in the formulation of lotions, powders, makeup and underarm deodorants.
Why Is It Used?
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate functions as an absorbentIngredients that have the capacity to absorb or soak up liquids., an anticaking agentIngredients or processing aids that prevent powdered or granular substances from forming clumps. and a viscosity increasing agent – nonaqueous.
Scientific Facts
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate has been reported to enhance the sun protection factor of Over-the-Counter (OTC) sunscreen formulations. In addition to its use in cosmetics and personal care products, it is also added to food as a modified starch that functions as a thickener and binderIngredients that hold together the ingredients of a compressed tablet or cake..
Safety Information
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) permits modified food starch, including Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate to be added directly to food. The safety of Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate has been assessed by the Cosmetic Ingredient ReviewThe Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) was established in 1976 as an independent safety review program for cosmetic ingredients. The CIR Expert Panel consists of independent experts in dermatology, toxicology, pharmacolgy and veterinary medicine. The CIR includes participation by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and the Consumer Federation of America. (CIR) Expert Panel. The CIR Expert Panel evaluated the scientific data and concluded that Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate was safe for use in cosmetic formulations provided that established limitations on heavy metalHeavy metals are higher atomic weight elements that have properties of a metallic substance at room temperature. Some heavy metals, such as iron, cobalt, copper, manganese, and zinc are required in small amounts by living organisms. Other heavy metals, such as mercury, lead and cadmium have no known beneficial effects. concentrations are not exceeded.
CIR Safety Review: Oral studies of Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate found no evidence of systemic, reproductive or developmental effects. Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate was not found to be an eye irritant or a dermal irritant or sensitizer. The CIR Expert Panel limited concentrations of toxic metals in Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate used in cosmetics and personal care products to the same concentrations established for food-grade modified starches.
More information about aluminum.
FDA: Link to Code of Federal Regulations for 1-Octenyl succinic anhydride, aluminum sulfate (Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate)
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr…
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate may be used in cosmetics and personal care products marketed in Europe according to the general provisions of the Cosmetics Regulation of the European UnionUnder the general provisions of the cosmetics regulation of the EU, ingredients appearing on the following function-specific annexes must comply with the listed restrictions and/or specifications: colorants (Annex IV), preservatives (Annex V), UV filters (Annex VI) and other ingredients with specific concentration limits and/or other restrictions (Annex III). Ingredients specifically prohibited from use in cosmetic products are listed in Annex II. Other ingredients listed in the EU cosmetic ingredient database (CosIng) may be used without restrictions..
Link to the EU Cosmetic Regulation:
http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/consumers/product_labelling_and_p…
More Scientific Information
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate is the aluminum salt of the reaction product of octenylsuccinic anhydride with starch. It is used as an absorbent, an anticaking agent and a viscosity increasing agent – nonaqueous.
Resources
Find out more about the regulation of Food Additives by the Food and Drug Administration
Food Ingredients and Packaging: http://www.fda.gov/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/default.htm
Food Contact Substances: http://www.fda.gov/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/PackagingFCS/defaul…
Substances Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS“GRAS” is an acronym for the phrase Generally Recognized As Safe. Under sections 201(s) and 409 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act), any substance that is intentionally added to food is a food additive, that is subject to premarket review and approval by FDA, unless the substance is generally recognized, among qualified experts, as having been adequately shown to be safe under the conditions of its intended use, or unless the use of the substance is otherwise excluded from the definition of a food additive.): http://www.fda.gov/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/GRAS/default.htm
Search the Code of Federal Regulations http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/cfrsearch.cfm
EU Cosmetics Inventory http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/cosmetics/cosing/