Hexamethylenetetramine E239
organic compound — Primarily synthetic.
Hexamethylenetetramine
CAS: 100-97-0
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, Hexamethylenetetramine is also used in medicine, industrial applications, household products. Its versatility makes it one of the most multi-purpose chemical compounds in everyday life.
Regulatory opinions differ: Hexamethylenetetramine is approved in JAPAN, CANADA but banned in EU, USA. This reflects different risk assessment philosophies between regions.
To reach the Acceptable Daily Intake limit, a 60kg adult would need to consume approximately AVOID - banned in EU/USA NO SAFE DAILY INTAKE ESTABLISHED in a single day. (This is a mathematical illustration, not a safety recommendation.)
Regulatory Analysis
Hexamethylenetetramine occupies a unique position in food additive regulation as a substance whose mechanism of action is itself the safety concern: it functions as a preservative precisely because it decomposes into formaldehyde under acidic conditions, including the pH of gastric acid. The regulatory question is not whether the decomposition product is hazardous -- formaldehyde is a recognized carcinogen -- but whether the quantities generated in situ from traditional cheese-making applications constitute a meaningful exposure. The persistence of grandfathered approvals for Provolone production in some jurisdictions reflects how cultural food heritage can sustain regulatory exceptions that would never survive a de novo safety assessment.
Detailed Regulatory Assessment
European Union (EFSA)
Removed from approved list for food use due to formaldehyde formation
United States (FDA)
Not approved due to formaldehyde decomposition concerns
Japan (MHLW)
Approved with restrictions for specific foods only (特定の食品のみ)
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 reacting formaldehyde with ammonia under controlled conditions.
Applications Beyond Food
Historical use as urinary antiseptic (rarely used now)
Used in production of resins, rubber additives, and explosives
Fuel tablets for camping stoves (hexamine stove fuel)