Ethylene Oxide and 2-Chloroethanol in Food

Ethylene oxide (EO) is a gas that has been used as a preservative and fumigant to control insects in the food industry, especially in the storage and transport of grain, seeds, and nuts. EO and one of its main byproducts, 2-chloroethanol, are considered toxic, leading to regulations of allowable exposure limits in foodstuffs and raw materials for foodstuffs. EO was detected in sesame seed imports from India in late 2020 and has since been detected in a range of food additives including locust bean gum, xantham gum, guar gum, and calcium carbonate. 

EO has been banned within the European Union since 1991, while other countries have established varying allowable limits for EO and 2-chloroethanol. The recent contamination reports have prompted reviews of established limits and also set strict parameters for any new imports of known impacted products. CIL has developed D₄-labeled 2-chloroethanol and ethylene oxide standards which are now readily available to ship from stock. A native 2-chloroethanol standard is also readily available from stock, while the native and doubly labeled ¹³C₂; D₄ ethylene oxide standards remain under development. Note these formulated standards qualify as low-level exempt quantities and are not subject to shipping restrictions as are the “neat” compounds.

Ethylene Oxide and 2-Chloroethanol