Biphenyl E230
aromatic hydrocarbon — Primarily synthetic.
1,1'-Biphenyl
CAS: 92-52-4
Factual Regulatory Reference
This database provides factual regulatory information compiled from official government sources. It does not constitute medical, nutritional, or safety advice. Regulatory status varies by country and is subject to change. Always refer to your local regulatory authority for the most current information.
? Did You Know?
Beyond food, Biphenyl is also used in industrial applications, household products. Its versatility makes it one of the most multi-purpose chemical compounds in everyday life.
To reach the Acceptable Daily Intake limit, a 60kg adult would need to consume approximately ~2 (if eating peel) oranges (200g each, consuming peel) in a single day. (This is a mathematical illustration, not a safety recommendation.)
Regulatory Analysis
Biphenyl raises distinctive regulatory questions as one of the few food additives never intended to be ingested, applied solely to citrus rind surfaces and shipping materials as a post-harvest fungicide. The assumption that surface treatment equals negligible consumer exposure is undermined by studies demonstrating migration into fruit flesh and by the culinary practice of using citrus zest, creating an unmonitored exposure pathway that falls outside the scenario modeled in safety assessments. Australia's ban stands in contrast to continued EU and US approval, reflecting disagreement over whether endocrine disruption and neurotoxicity data from industrial exposure studies are relevant to the trace levels encountered in treated fruit.
Detailed Regulatory Assessment
European Union (EFSA)
RESTRICTED to citrus fruit peel surface treatment ONLY; not for direct food contact
Official EFSA LinkUnited States (FDA)
Approved only for use in citrus fruit wrapping materials, not directly on fruit
Japan (MHLW)
Approved for surface treatment of citrus fruits
Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI)
International Standard (JECFA)
mg/kg body weight per day
European Standard (EFSA)
Everyday Perspective
For a 60kg adult, this limit is roughly equivalent to consuming:
Natural Occurrence
This additive is not known to occur naturally in significant quantities.
Manufacturing
Synthesized by coupling two benzene rings through chemical reactions, typically via catalytic dehydrogenation of benzene.
Applications Beyond Food
Used as heat transfer fluid, organic intermediate in chemical manufacturing
Impregnated in fruit wrapping papers and shipping boxes