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Dimethyl Dicarbonate (E242) — What You Need to Know

Generally Safe(7/10)Synthetic

The score is an eNumbers.org editorial summary, not an official agency rating or medical advice. Start with the regulatory status and primary sources below.

What Is Dimethyl Dicarbonate?

Dimethyl dicarbonate (DMDC) is a synthetic chemical compound used as a cold sterilization agent for beverages. It is added to drinks immediately before bottling and hydrolyzes rapidly within hours into methanol and carbon dioxide, leaving no detectable residue in the final product. It is effective against yeasts, moulds, and bacteria at low concentrations.

What Is It Used For?

Used as a cold sterilization agent in beverages such as wine, flavoured water, iced tea, and sports drinks. Eliminates spoilage microorganisms without requiring heat treatment, making it ideal for heat-sensitive beverages.

Function: Preservative, cold sterilization agent

Regulatory & Editorial Context

📊
Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI)
Not specified mg/kg bw/day
🏛️
Regulatory Status
🇺🇸 USA (FDA): Approved for beverages (up to 250 ppm)
🇪🇺 EU (EFSA): Authorized (evaluated 2015)
⚠️ Key Concerns

Added to beverages immediately before bottling; hydrolyzes rapidly to methanol and carbon dioxide within hours, leaving no residual chemical in the product. The methanol produced is at levels far below those found naturally in fruit juices. EFSA and FDA consider it safe as a 'cold sterilization' agent for beverages. Cannot be used in foods, only beverages. Acute toxicity is high before hydrolysis, so it must be handled carefully during manufacturing.

Editorial context score

eNumbers.org currently assigns Dimethyl Dicarbonate an editorial context label of Generally Safe with a score of 7/10. This is 1.3 points above the database average for preservatives (5.7/10). Dataset reference year: 2015.

This score is not issued by EFSA, FDA, WHO or another regulator.

Commonly Found In

WineFlavored waterIced teaSports drinksJuice beverages
Example brands:
GatoradeSutter HomeInnocent Drinks

Always check the label for E242 or 'Dimethyl Dicarbonate'

▶Chemical Information
Formula: C4H6O5
Molecular Weight: 134.09 g/mol
CAS Number: 4525-33-1
INS Number: 242
Also known as: E242, INS 242, DMDC, Velcorin

Frequently Asked Questions about Dimethyl Dicarbonate

Current dataset status: FDA — Approved for beverages (up to 250 ppm); EFSA/EU — Authorized (evaluated 2015). Reported concerns: Added to beverages immediately before bottling; hydrolyzes rapidly to methanol and carbon dioxide within hours, leaving no residual chemical in the product. The methanol produced is at levels far below those found naturally in fruit juices. EFSA and FDA consider it safe as a 'cold sterilization' agent for beverages. Cannot be used in foods, only beverages. Acute toxicity is high before hydrolysis, so it must be handled carefully during manufacturing. Regulatory status and individual risk are not the same; check the primary sources and permitted conditions of use.

Quick Facts

E-Number
E242
INS Number
242
Category
Preservatives
Origin
Synthetic
FDA Status
Approved for beverages (up to 250 ppm)
EFSA Status
Authorized (evaluated 2015)
ADI
Not specified mg/kg bw/day
Dataset Review
2015
Ingredient-level Dietary Notes
Vegan: ✅ YesHalal: ✅ YesKosher: ✅ YesGluten-Free: ✅ Yes

Carriers, processing aids and product certification can change suitability. Verify the final label and certifier.

Quick Links

Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional for health-related decisions.

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Other preservatives in the same family

Sodium Benzoate (E211)Sorbic Acid (E200)Sulfur Dioxide (E220)