Isopropyl citrate

INS 384CAS 39413-05-3

Listed as an antioxidant and a sequestrant by Codex and the US.

Listed as antioxidants (US, Codex) · sequestrants (US, Codex) · preservatives (Codex) · solvents and vehicles (US)
Chemical structure of Isopropyl citrate, from PubChem compound 61986
Structure from PubChem CID 61986 (National Library of Medicine, public domain). A depiction of one compound: where a listing covers a family, or a substance has no single structure, this page shows none.

Isopropyl citrate is a sequestrant used in oils and margarine, tying up trace metals that would otherwise speed up rancidity.

Where it is and isn’t permitted

Status of Isopropyl citrate by jurisdiction. Every jurisdiction this site covers is listed, including those where the substance does not appear.
JurisdictionStatusScope and limitsCitation
Australia and New ZealandFood Standards Australia New ZealandNo listed food uses foundThis site has not matched this substance to any food use on this jurisdiction’s list of authorised food additives. A food additive may be used only in foods that list names. Flavourings, enzymes, processing aids and added nutrients are regulated separately and do not appear on it.
CanadaHealth CanadaNo listing matchedHealth Canada’s lists name additives without E or INS numbers, so this site matches them by exact name. A substance listed there under a name this site does not recognise has no row here.
European UnionEuropean Commission / EFSANo listed food uses foundThis site has not matched this substance to any food use on this jurisdiction’s list of authorised food additives. A food additive may be used only in foods that list names. Flavourings, enzymes, processing aids and added nutrients are regulated separately and do not appear on it.
Great BritainFood Standards Agency / Food Standards ScotlandNo listed food uses foundThis site has not matched this substance to any food use on this jurisdiction’s list of authorised food additives. A food additive may be used only in foods that list names. Flavourings, enzymes, processing aids and added nutrients are regulated separately and do not appear on it.
JapanConsumer Affairs AgencyPermitted, with conditions
Designated additive: Appended Table 1, item 114, クエン酸イソプロピル (“Isopropyl Citrate” in the unofficial English translation). …

Designated additive: Appended Table 1, item 114, クエン酸イソプロピル (“Isopropyl Citrate” in the unofficial English translation). Standards for use — Specifications and Standards for Foods, Food Additives, etc. (MHW Notification No. 370 of 1959), Part II (Food Additives), F (Standards for use), entry クエン酸イソプロピル: (1) [may be used only in the foods stated] “クエン酸イソプロピルは、油脂及びバター以外の食品に使用してはならない。” (2) [sets maximum levels of use for the foods stated] “クエン酸イソプロピルの使用量は、クエン酸モノイソプロピルとして、油脂及びバター1kgにつき0.10g以下でなければならない。” The Japanese is the standard as published. There is no official English translation of the Notification; the English in square brackets is this site’s description of what each sentence does, not a translation of the foods or the levels. Compositional specifications for this additive, in the same Notification, are not imported and are not shown here; nor are the general rules in F 添加物一般, which apply to every additive.

Regulations for Enforcement of the Food Sanitation Act (MHW Ordinance No. 23 of 1948), Appended Table 1retrieved 2026-10-18
South KoreaMinistry of Food and Drug SafetyNo listing matchedThis site imports Part III of South Korea’s Standards and Specifications for Food Additives, matched by CAS number, then INS number, then exact name. Mixed preparations and sanitisers are not imported, and an entry whose identifiers disagreed with a page’s is held for review, so an empty row does not show that South Korea does not permit the substance.
United StatesFood and Drug AdministrationPermitted21 CFR 184.1386retrieved 2026-10-17
Codex AlimentariusCodex Alimentarius Commission / JECFAPermitted, with conditions

7 food categories

highest permitted level 200 mg/kg

Show every food category and its notes
  • 02.1.2 Vegetable oils and fats — 200 mg/kg
    • Note 511 Excluding virgin and cold pressed oils in products conforming to the Standard for Edible Fats and Oils not Covered by Individual Standards (CXS 19-1981) and the Standard for Named Vegetable Oils (CXS 210-1999).
    • Note 520 Except for use in products conforming to the Standard for Edible Fats and Oils not Covered by Individual Standards (CXS 19-1981), the Standard for Named Vegetable Oils (CXS 210-1999), singly or in combination: isopropyl citrates (INS 384) and citric and fatty acid esters of glycerol (INS 472c) at 100 mg/kg.
    • Note XS33 Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Olive Oils and Olive Pomace Oils (CODEX STAN 33-1981).
    • Note XS325R Excluding products conforming to the Regional Standard for Unrefined Shea Butter (CXS 325R-2017).
  • 02.1.3 Lard, tallow, fish oil, and other animal fats — 200 mg/kg
    • Note 521 For use in products conforming to the Standard for Edible Fats and Oils not Covered by Individual Standards (CXS 19-1981) and the Standard for Named Animal Fats (CXS 211-1999), singly or in combination: isopropyl citrates (INS 384) and citric and fatty acid esters of glycerol (INS 472c) at 100 mg/kg.
  • 02.2.2 Fat spreads, dairy fat spreads and blended spreads — 100 mg/kg
    • Note XS253 Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Dairy Fat Spreads (CXS 253-2006).
  • 08.1.2 Fresh meat, poultry and game, comminuted — 200 mg/kg
  • 08.2.1.2 Cured (including salted) and dried non-heat treated processed meat, poultry, and game products in whole pieces or cuts — 200 mg/kg
  • 08.3.1.2 Cured (including salted) and dried non-heat treated processed comminuted meat, poultry, and game products — 200 mg/kg
  • 14.1.4 Water-based flavoured drinks, including "sport," “energy,” or "electrolyte" drinks and particulated drinks — 200 mg/kg
CXS 192-1995 Table One, INS 384and 6 further provisionsretrieved 2026-09-07

How much is permitted

A listing usually limits the quantity as well as the food. Only one of the forms that takes is a figure: quantum satis and good manufacturing practice permit the amount the technological effect requires and no more, which is a limit rather than the absence of one. Figures below are the range across every food category this page is listed in, and categories differ between regulators — see how much is permitted.

Japan—1 no quantity stated
United States—1 no quantity stated
Codex Alimentarius100 mg/kg – 200 mg/kg7 numeric limit

What it is made from

Made by reacting citric acid with isopropyl alcohol.

  • Vegan
  • Vegetarian

Compare other additives on the dietary indexes.

CAS registry number
39413-05-3
InChIKey
XBLJCYOUYPSETL-UHFFFAOYSA-N
PubChem
CID 61986

How JECFA defines it

The international specification for identity and purity, prepared by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives and published by FAO. It is a different document from any above, written by a different body and revised on its own cycle; it is advisory, and a country adopts it or does not.

INS 384 Isopropyl Citrate Mixture

Synonyms: INS No. 384

Assay, identification and purity criteria

Description and assay

Specification history
Prepared at the 17th JECFA (1973), published in FNP 4 (1978) and in FNP 52 (1992). Metals and arsenic specifications revised at the 61st JECFA (2003). An ADI of 0-14 mg/kg bw was established at the 17th JECFA (1973)
Chemical names
Citric acid mixed ester of 2-propanol. The article of commerce, monoisopropyl citrate mixture, is composed of approximately 38 parts by weight of isopropyl citrate in 62 pars by weight of mono- and diglycerides
Structural formula
where R is either hydrogen or a isopropyl group. The major component of the 38 parts of isopropyl citrate mixture is monoisopropyl citrate (approximately 25 parts), the remainder being diisopropyl citrate (approximately 9 parts) and triisopropyl citrate (approximately 4 parts) Approximate composition: Monoisopropyl citrate - 27 parts by weight Diisopropyl citrate - 9 parts by weight Triisopropyl citrate - 2 parts by weight
DESCRIPTION
Oil miscible semi-solid material. The commercial product, monoisopropyl citrate mixture, is a viscous, colourless syrup exhibiting some crystallization upon standing, and may be further specified as to saponification value, acid value, citric acid and isopropyl content.
FUNCTIONAL USES
Antioxidant, sequestrant

Identification

Solubility (Vol. 4)
Soluble in water and ethanol
Test for citrate
Reflux 3 g of sample with 50 ml of sodium hydroxide TS for 1 h, and let stand to cool. This solution is used for the following tests: (1) Neutralize the solution with a (1 in 20) sulfuric acid solution, add an excess of mercuric sulfate TS, heat to boil, and add potassium permanganate TS. The permanganate colour of the solution disappears, and a white precipitate forms. (2) Neutralize the solution with hydrochloric acid, add an excess of calcium chloride TS, and boil. A white crystalline precipitate is formed which is insoluble in sodium hydroxide TS, but soluble in dilute hydrochloric acid TS.
Test for isopropanol
Reflux 2 g of sample with 50 ml of sodium hydroxide TS for 1 h. Distil off 20 ml. Place 8 g of chromic oxide in a flask, add 15 ml water and 2 ml concentrated sulfuric acid. Provide the flask with a reflux condenser and add 5 ml distillate slowly through the condenser. Reflux for 30 min, then cool and distil off 2 ml. Add 3 ml water and 10 ml mercuric sulfate TS to the distillate. Heat in a boiling water bath for 3 min. A white or yellow precipitate within 3 min indicates the presence of isopropanol.

Purity criteria

Acids other than citric acid
Should be absent
Alcohols other than isopropanol
Should be absent
Sulfated ash (Vol. 4)
Not more than 0.3%
Lead (Vol. 4)
Not more than 2 mg/kg Determine using an atomic absorption technique appropriate to the specified level. The selection of sample size and method of sample preparation may be based on the principles of the method described in Volume 4, “Instrumental Methods.”

FAO JECFA Monograph 1 (2006)

Every name it appears under

14 recorded names. A label may use any of them.

INS number

  • 384

CAS registry number

  • 39413-05-3

As it appears in regulation

  • Isopropyl citrate
  • Isopropyl citrates

Other names

  • 1,2,3-Propanetricarboxylic acid, 2-hydroxy-, 1-methylethyl ester
  • 1,2,3-Propanetricarboxylic acid, 2-hydroxy-, mono(2-methylpropyl) ester
  • 1,2,3-Propanetricarboxylic acid, 2-hydroxy-, mono(2-methylpropyl) ester (9CI)
  • 1-Methylethyl 2-hydroxy-1,2,3-propanetricarboxylate
  • 2-hydroxy-2-(2-oxopropyl)butanedioic acid;propan-2-ol
  • CCRIS 3655
  • Citric acid, isopropyl ester
  • Isopropyl citrate
  • ISOPROPYL CITRATES
  • XBLJCYOUYPSETL-UHFFFAOYSA-N

Hazard reference values

Values set by assessing bodies. A body that has not set a value is not listed here.
TypeValuePopulationAssessed byOpinion
ADI14 mg/kg bw/day—JECFA1973

Evidence and how bodies read it

Studies, and the differing conclusions regulators drew from them, are curated rather than machine-read, and none has been written for this substance yet.

Common questions

Assembled from what is above, in the words the questions are usually asked in. Each answer is the same statement the relevant section makes, with the same citations behind it.

What is INS 384?
INS 384 is Isopropyl citrate. Isopropyl citrate is a sequestrant used in oils and margarine, tying up trace metals that would otherwise speed up rancidity.
What is Isopropyl citrate used for in food?
It is listed as an antioxidant and a sequestrant — the role Codex and the US assign it. This page shows every function each regulator records, with the citation for each.
Is Isopropyl citrate banned in Europe?
No. Isopropyl citrate does not appear on the EU's list of authorised food additives, which is not the same as being banned: the EU permits an additive only where it has authorised it, and usually the reason for an absence is that no one applied. The EU has made no finding against this substance. It does mean it may not be used as a food additive in the EU today.
Where is Isopropyl citrate permitted?
Of the seven regulators this site reads, Japan, the US and the Codex standard permit it. Each permission is for named foods at named levels, not a blanket one; the table on this page gives them with citations.
Is Isopropyl citrate vegan?
Yes. Isopropyl citrate is not derived from animals, and is suitable for vegetarians. This page says what it is made from and how.

Sources for this page

  • jp retrieved 2026-10-18
  • ecfr retrieved 2026-10-17
  • gsfa retrieved 2026-09-07
  • jecfaspecs retrieved 2026-09-23

Full licence terms and publisher details on Sources. How this page is built and updated: Method.

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