E650 / Flavour enhancers
Zinc acetate
Safety in brief
Safe in moderation
The selected favourable assessment is specifically for a limited chewing-gum use.
- Watch for
- Chewing-gum concentration and other zinc-containing products.
- Our advice
- Do not apply the gum conclusion to zinc supplements or a different preparation. Check the relevant food-use rule separately.
What it is
Zinc acetate is a zinc salt used as a source of dietary zinc, an essential trace mineral, in supplements and fortified foods such as lozenges and cereals. It also has antimicrobial properties that make it useful in some cosmetics and personal care products. It is generally recognized as safe when used within regulated amounts.
Also appears on labels as: Zinc acetate, Zinc(II) acetate, Acetic acid zinc salt, Acetate of zinc, Zinc diacetate, Zinc ethanoate, Zinc acetate dihydrate, Zinc acetate anhydrous, Zn(CH3COO)2, Zn(OAc)2, Zinc acetate food additive, Zinc acetate supplement.
Dietary information
- Vegan
- Yes
- Halal
- Yes
- Gluten-free
- Yes
- Allergens
- None recorded
Recorded ingredient information. Check the product label or certification: sources, other ingredients and cross-contact can vary.
Research & body effects
Why this safety reading?
What the authorities concluded: The European Scientific Committee on Food in 1998 considered zinc acetate dihydrate up to 1 mg/g chewing gum, equivalent to 0.3 mg zinc/g gum, acceptable in that use. This is not a general zinc-supplement dose recommendation.
What it means for your body: Zinc is an essential nutrient, but the body’s need for it does not make every amount beneficial. This assessment concerns a flavour-related gum use.
Sources, assessment dates & limits
- SCF 1998: zinc acetate in chewing gum
Opinion on the specified concentration and use in chewing gum.
EatMatrix source check: . This reading summarises selected authority conclusions and named follow-ups. It is not a systematic review of every study, an independent medical review, or eight completed country decisions. The human evidence below keeps its own review scope.
An acceptable daily intake (ADI) concerns long-term daily exposure, usually per kilogram of body weight. It is not a target to consume or a boundary proving harm from one serving. “Not specified” means a numerical ADI was not considered necessary for the evaluated uses, not unlimited safety. Group limits apply to the stated substances together.
Health notes from our ingredient record
- Excess zinc intake (well above recommended dietary levels, generally from over-supplementation rather than fortified food) can cause nausea, interfere with copper absorption, and impair immune function over time.
- Generally recognized as safe at typical fortification and supplement levels.
Other references from our ingredient record
These links come from the original ingredient record. They are separate from the source reviews above and have not all been checked for the exact ingredient, amount consumed or claim. Dates are shown newest first.
- Scientific Opinion on the safety of zinc acetate (E 650) as a food supplement — EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA), EFSA Journal (2014). The Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety of zinc acetate (E 650) when used as a source of zinc in food supplements and food fortification. The Panel concluded that zinc acetate is a safe source of zinc for the general population when used according to established upper limits for zinc intake.[safe]
Country rules
Country checks for E650
Permission depends on the market, type of food, amount and conditions. A scientific opinion or an E-number alone does not establish a legal use. These checks are separate from the stored EatMatrix rating.
Compare all eight markets and their sources
| Market | What is checked |
|---|---|
| European Union | Regulation (EC) 1333/2008, Annex II Part B, version , contains the exact code E650: Zinc acetate. Listing alone does not allow every food use. Part E food categories, limits, specifications and applicable later acts still need a product-specific check. Source read: . |
| Great Britain | The FSA register record for E650 (Zinc acetate) lists “Authorised” in England, Scotland and Wales. Register updated: 01 April 2025; record checked: . Food-specific conditions and specifications still need a separate legal check. |
| United States | Complete current-use review pending. Any scoped provision in the label guide above applies only to the stated use. FDA explains the applicable food-additive and GRAS framework. |
| Northern Ireland | Review pending. Check the applicable EU rules and territory arrangements; the GB register alone does not establish this status. FSA guidance is a starting source, not a verified permission for this entry. |
| Canada | Exact use and legal category need confirmation No exact additive-use row was found for this mineral salt. CFIA distinguishes mineral nutrients and supplemental ingredients from listed technological additive uses. A nutrient role does not authorize a technological use automatically. EatMatrix reading: Match the exact salt, intended purpose, product category and applicable fortification or supplemented-food rules. Another mineral salt’s permission is not transferable. Name and category review: . This describes the legal source check, not a finding that the ingredient is safe, unsafe or untested. Sources and names checkedNames checked: Zinc acetate; Potassium Gluconate; Ferrous Lactate; Zinc Acetate. All 15 Health Canada permitted-additive lists were checked by exact name, with the reviewed alternatives above. E-numbers alone are not Canadian ingredient names. The Justice Canada consolidation read was current to 21 September 2026. A complete product decision also requires its composition, specifications, intended food and use, quantities, applicable separate provisions and any later changes. |
| Australia | Review pending. Food Standards Code permissions and conditions need an additive-specific check. FSANZ food-additive rules is a starting source, not a verified permission for this entry. |
| New Zealand | Review pending. Food Standards Code permissions and conditions need an additive-specific check. FSANZ food-additive rules is a starting source, not a verified permission for this entry. |
| Japan | Review pending. The relevant list, identity and use standards need an additive-specific check. CAA food-additive lists is a starting source, not a verified permission for this entry. |
Sources & review status
Check what each source covers: an authority’s conclusion, a research finding and a country’s legal permission answer different questions.
What this guide covers
- Selected authority conclusions
- Read the assessment, food-use scope and exceptions. Checked ; this is a source-based website reading.
- Original ingredient record
- 1 research link; newest recorded date: . Sources added separately to this guide are not included in this count.
The safety reading uses the named authority assessments and follow-ups. Other research and country checks retain their own dates and limits. This is not a complete review of every study, preparation or current country rule. The amount in a product and how it is used still matter.
How to read the ratings, research and country checksDatabase updated: . What does an E number mean on a food label?
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
What is EatMatrix's safety reading for E650?
EatMatrix’s source-based reading for E650 is “Safe in moderation”. The selected favourable assessment is specifically for a limited chewing-gum use. Chewing-gum concentration and other zinc-containing products. Do not apply the gum conclusion to zinc supplements or a different preparation. Check the relevant food-use rule separately. Selected authority conclusions checked 2026-10-11; see the linked assessment, its date and scope. Country permission is a separate question.
Is E650 vegan, halal or gluten-free?
According to our ingredient data for Zinc acetate — vegan: yes, vegetarian: yes, halal: yes, kosher: yes, gluten-free: yes, dairy-free: yes. Manufacturing sources can vary between products; check the label if it matters to you.
What is E650 and why is it used?
Zinc acetate is a zinc salt used as a source of dietary zinc, an essential trace mineral, in supplements and fortified foods such as lozenges and cereals. It also has antimicrobial properties that make it useful in some cosmetics and personal care products. It is generally recognized as safe when used within regulated amounts.
Does E650 contain allergens?
No known allergens are recorded for Zinc acetate.
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This page combines a dated reading of selected authority conclusions with separately scoped research, database records and country checks. It does not assess every product or your personal exposure. It is general information, not medical advice.