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GREENVEIL

  • food
  • industrial

dl-Tartaric acid

CAS 133-37-9 · 80/100 · High conf.

Also registered as 1 other CAS number

138508-61-9

Concern score

80/100Critical concern based on regulatory listings.
High confidence

dl-Tartaric acid in plain language

What it is

Also known as Tartaric acid, dl- · Tartaric acid,dl- · (2S,3S)-2,3-Dihydroxybutanedioic acid · Butanedioic acid, 2,3-DIHYDROXY-, (2R,3R)-REL- · Racemic acid · Racemic tartaric acid

Show all 19 names

REL-(2R,3R)-2,3-DIHYDROXYBUTANEDIOIC acid · Resolvable tartaric acid · Tartaric acid, (±)- · Uvic acid · (+/-)-tartaric acid · (±)-tartaric acid · Butanedioic acid, 2,3-dihydroxy-, (2S,3S)- · DL-Tartaric · Paratartaric aicd · Tartaric acid, (+/-)- · Tartaric acid · Tartaric acid (d-, l-, dl-, meso-) · tartaric acid dl 0-3%

What it does

Used in food as a flavouring agent, acid, antioxidant synergist, emulsifier, sequestrant, synergist.

  • Flavouring agent, acid, antioxidant synergist, emulsifier, sequestrant, synergist
  • Antioxidant
  • Fragrance
  • Flavouring
  • Raising agent
Is it a concern?
Critical concern: no hazard classifications on record.

Why it's flagged

EPA CPDat observed this chemical in 2 composition records across product categories including Laboratory supplies.

The score describes this ingredient's chemical identity — its hazard profile from published classifications and regulatory status — not the safety of any product it appears in.

Regulation

No restrictions found. dl-Tartaric acid appears in these published regulatory listings.

Recorded in these product areas

  • Found in consumer products
  • Industrial
  • GLOBALJECFANO ADI ALLOCATEDJECFA evaluation lists ADI NO ADI ALLOCATED. Functional class: flavouring agent, acid, antioxidant synergist, emulsifier, sequestrant, synergist.
    • JECFA evaluation lists ADI NO ADI ALLOCATED. Functional class: flavouring agent, acid, antioxidant synergist, emulsifier, sequestrant, synergist.Source →
  • USEPAcommercial use observedEPA CPDat observed this chemical in 2 composition records across product categories including Laboratory supplies. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Flavouring and nutrient, Antioxidant, Leavening agent.
    • EPA CPDat observed this chemical in 2 composition records across product categories including Laboratory supplies. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Flavouring and nutrient, Antioxidant, Leavening agent.Source →
  • USFDAlisted in openFDA substanceopenFDA substance registry classifies this ingredient as chemical.
    • openFDA substance registry classifies this ingredient as chemical.Source →

Expert safety opinions

Independent scientific assessments cited by the records we hold, with the year and link where the record gives one.

  • JECFA

    Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives

    • JECFA evaluation lists ADI NO ADI ALLOCATED. Functional class: flavouring agent, acid, antioxidant synergist, emulsifier, sequestrant, synergist.

      Year not recorded · GLOBAL JECFA listing · Read the source →

  • EFSA

    European Food Safety Authority

    No EFSA opinion on file.

Evidence & sources

No graded research studies for dl-Tartaric acid yet. This record is compiled from the published data sources below — registries and regulatory listings, not study findings.

5 data sources

Where this comes from

  • EPA Chemical and Products Database

    exposure · updated 2020-03-19

    Open →

  • EPA DSSTox Identifiers

    chemistry · updated 2025-12-29

    Open →

  • FDA GSRS UNII

    registry · updated 2026-02-26

    Open →

  • WHO JECFA Database

    regulatory · updated 2026-10-04

    Open →

  • openFDA Substance

    registry · updated 2026-05-24

    Open →

Suitability

Context-specific fit derived from published classifications and the current ingredient evidence profile.

Food use

Food-use source coverage is present in the current record.

Good fit

The ingredient appears in food-oriented source coverage or allowed-use references, which makes food use easier to support than a context with no domain signal at all.

Fragrance avoidance

Not a strong fit for fragrance avoidance because it carries Fragrance.

Avoid

The ingredient itself is a fragrance-linked signal, so it is better treated as an avoid case when fragrance exposure is the main concern.

Where it has been recorded

How often EPA CPDat has listed dl-Tartaric acid in a product composition. These are source records, not Greenveil catalog products.

Source records

2

Named organisations

3

Laboratory supplies

Typical roles

Flavouring agent, acid, antioxidant synergist, emulsifier, sequestrant, synergistAntioxidantFragranceFlavouringRaising agent
See products using dl-Tartaric acid →

Catalog

Found in these products

Their ingredient lists include dl-Tartaric acid; each product's own rating depends on its whole formula, so it is shown on the product page, not here.

See all 9 →Find products without it →