Sodium Formate

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) includes Sodium Formate on its list of indirect food additives considered 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.). It is used in the manufacture of paper and paperboard used in food packaging. The European Commission permits the use of Sodium Formate as a preservativeIngredients that prevent or retard bacterial growth, and thus protect cosmetic products from spoilage. in cosmetics and personal care products at a maximum concentration of 0.5%.

The safety of formic acid has been assessed by the Cometic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel. The CIR Expert Panel concluded that formic acid was safe when used in cosmetic formulations as a pH adjusterIngredients that are used to control the pH of cosmetic products. with a 64 ppm limit for the free acid. More information about the CIR review of formic acid can be found by searching this website for formic acid.

Link to the FDA Code of Federal Regulations for Sodium Formate
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr…

Sodium Formate is listed in the Cosmetics Directive of the European Union and may be used as a preservative in cosmetics and personal care products at a maximum concentration of 0.5% (expressed as acid) (see Annex VI).

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