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E230PreservativeElevated concern
Biphenyl
In plain words
The short version
An aromatic post-harvest citrus fungicide — removed from the EU food-additive list in 2003 because it falls under the EU definition of a plant protection product.
Why we flag it
A fungicide for citrus peel, removed from the EU's list of food additives in 2003 because it counts there as a plant protection product. We flag it as a pesticide-type use rather than a food ingredient.
Safety profile
JECFA allocated an ADI of 0–0.05 mg/kg body weight (1964). The EU removed it from its list of permitted food additives in 2003 because it falls under the definition of a plant protection product.
The detail
Manufactured by dehydrogenation of benzene at high temperature, or recovered from coal tar distillates. The simplest aromatic hydrocarbon dimer.
Historically applied to citrus packing tissue and crate liners as a vapor-phase post-harvest fungicide. The vapor penetrates the wax coating and inhibits Penicillium growth without direct fruit contact. EU food use was revoked in 2003. Still used in industrial chemical synthesis and as a heat-transfer fluid.
White crystalline solid with a faint, pleasant odor. Practically insoluble in water; soluble in ethanol and oils. Volatile enough to function as a vapor-phase fungicide.
Banned for food use in the EU since 2003. Permitted in some non-EU citrus-exporting countries (Argentina, South Africa); some US import tolerance remains for receiver-country labeled fruit.
Sources
- WHO JECFA database — Diphenyl (biphenyl, INS 230), evaluation 1964 — World Health Organization / JECFA, 1964. safety: JECFA ADI 0–0.05 mg/kg bw
- EU — Directive 2003/114/EC amending Directive 95/2/EC on food additives other than colours and sweeteners — Publications Office of the European Union (EUR-Lex), 2003. regulation: removed from EU additive list because it is a plant protection product
Checked against these sources on .
Educational information only. Not medical, dietary or veterinary advice. Spotted an error? Tell us.