Cocamide MEA

Safety Information

The Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety (Expert Panel) evaluated the safety of cocamide MEA in 1999, concluding it is safe as used in rinse-off products and safe at concentrations up to 10% in leave-on products. The Expert Panel noted ethanolamide ingredients, including cocamide MEA, could react with nitrosating agents to form N-nitroso compounds (i.e., nitrosamines). are organic substances formed by the reaction of an amine/amide (such as a protein in foods or an amide side group on a cosmetic ingredient) with what is called a nitrosating agent (such as nitrites that are used in foods as preservatives). Because of the potential for this process to occur, ethanolamides should not be used in cosmetics products in which N-nitroso compounds may be formed. This is standard practice for manufacturers of cosmetics and personal care products.

In 2015, the Expert Panel re-reviewed the safety of 28 ethanolamides, including cocamide MEA, and concluded they are safe in the present practices of use and concentration when they are formulated to be nonirritating. They reiterated these ingredients should not be used in cosmetic products in which N-nitroso compounds may be formed.

Cocamide MEA is listed on the EU’s cosmetic ingredient inventory (CosIng) and may be used without restrictions in cosmetics and personal care products marketed in Europe under the general provisions of the Cosmetics Directive of the European Union.

Cocamide MEA

What Is It?

Cocamide MEA, also known as cocamide monoethanolamine, is derived from the fatty acids found in coconut oil and reacted with monoethanolamine (MEA). Cocamide MEA typically comes in solid flakes or as a pale yellow, clear or amber-colored liquid. In cosmetics and personal care products, cocamide MEA is used in the formulation of bath soaps and shampoo.

Why Is It Used?

Cocamide MEA is used as a surfactant-foam booster and viscosity increasing agent – aqueous.

Scientific Facts

Since diethanolamine (DEA) could exist as a trace-level impurity in ethanolamide ingredients, the Expert Panel discussed the positive findings reported in a 1999 dermal carcinogenicity study of DEA. The Expert Panel concluded that the biological mechanisms involved in liver cancer and kidney lesions that were reported in mice had little relevance to the safety of DEA in personal care products. In addition to the lack of mechanistic relevance, it was thought there would be no carcinogenic risk to humans because the concentration of DEA in personal care products does not penetrate human skin to any significant extent during the use of such personal care products. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also indicated that it does not believe cosmetic ingredients that may contain residual DEA pose any risk to consumers. The FDA will alert the public if the agency’s position changes and advised consumers to review the ingredients on product labels.

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