Magnesium Chloride

What Is It?

Magnesium Chloride is a colorless crystalline material that occurs naturally as the mineral bischofite. In cosmetics and personal care products, Magnesium Chloride is used to formulate many types of products including baby products, bath products, soaps and detergents; body and hand lotions, cleansing products, eye makeup and hair care products.

Why Is It Used?

Magnesium Chloride functions as a flavoring agent and a viscosity increasing agent – aqueous.

Scientific Facts

Magnesium Chloride is highly soluble in water. It is increasingly being used for de-icing roadways as it is less toxic to plants, and less corrosive to concrete and steel than sodium chloride.

Safety Information

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) includes Magnesium Chloride on its list of direct food substances affirmed as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS). Magnesium Chloride is also permitted for as an indirect food additive for use in polymers used in food contact surfaces.

FDA: Link to Code of Federal Regulations for

The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) reviewed the safety of Magnesium Chloride as used as a flavoring agent. They concluded that it was not necessary to establish an Acceptable Daily Intake for use of this ingredient in food.

Link to the JECFA safety evaluation of Magnesium Chloride: 
http://www.inchem.org/documents/jecfa/jeceval/jec_1296.htm 

Magnesium Chloride may be used in cosmetics and personal care products marketed in Europe according to the general provisions of the Cosmetics Regulation of the European Union.

Link to the EU Cosmetic Regulation:
http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/consumers/product_labelling_and_p…

More Scientific Information

Magnesium Chloride may be included in dietary supplements to maintain adequate levels of magnesium in the body.

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): 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/