What is E944?
Propane (E944) is a gas used as a propellant or in specified food-processing applications where the food category and use conditions permit it. Goodnessly rates E944 Safe, while food-category permissions and regulator conditions still apply.
A gas used as a propellant or in specified food-processing applications where the food category and use conditions permit it. Check the food category, amount and full formulation rather than judging one ingredient in isolation.
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Read the FAQ →
What is Propane?
Propane is a gas used as a propellant or in specified food-processing applications where the food category and use conditions permit it. Its function depends on the formulation and the conditions attached to the permitted use.
What's it used for?
- Serving as a propellant in specified applications
- Supporting a practical package or processing format
- Providing a technical gas function where permitted
- Working under the identity and use conditions that apply
Where you'll find E944 on the shelf
You may see E944 in packaged foods where its technical function is useful and the food category permits it.
Is E944 permitted? What the regulators say
Propane is listed or permitted in the checked AU/NZ, EU and US frameworks with conditions. Permission is conditional: category, level, identity and specifications matter.
| Region | Status | What this means |
|---|---|---|
| AU/NZ Australia & New Zealand (FSANZ) | Permitted with conditions | FSANZ lists the additive number in its food-additive materials; the permitted use, food category and conditions are set by the Food Standards Code. [FSANZ source] |
| EU European Union (EUR-Lex) | Authorised with conditions | The consolidated Union list includes the additive for specified categories and conditions. [EUR-Lex source] |
| US United States (FDA) | Permitted with conditions | FDA provides US pathways for propane in specified food applications under 21 CFR 173.350 and 184.1655, subject to the sections’ conditions. [FDA source] |
Goodnessly rates E944 Safe within its rating system. The rating does not remove the need to consider the product category, amount or full formulation.
- EFSA’s call for data on gaseous food additives included propane; the current call materials reviewed for this draft do not state a completed new numerical ADI for this specific additive.
- A gas’s permission is tied to its application, purity, food category and conditions of use.
- Regulatory permissions can change; confirm the primary source when a product or use is unusual.
This section is checked periodically rather than continuously — confirm the current primary source before relying on a regulatory detail.
Who might want to limit or avoid it
- People comparing additive functions across products
- People checking the frequency of this ingredient in their usual foods
- People who want to consider the whole formulation and serving pattern
Goodnessly rates E944 Safe as a practical prompt to understand the ingredient, the product and the overall formulation.
How to spot it on a label
Look for:
- Propane
- 944
- E944
- Additive class (944)
Ingredient labels may use the name, the number, or the additive class followed by the number.
Related additives
Frequently asked questions
What is E944?
E944 is Propane, a gas used as a propellant or in specified food-processing applications where the food category and use conditions permit it.
Is E944 permitted?
E944 is listed or permitted with conditions in Australia/New Zealand, the EU and the US sources checked for this draft.
What should I know about Propane?
The EFSA gaseous-additives call materials reviewed for this draft do not state a completed new numerical ADI for this specific additive.
How does Goodnessly rate E944?
Goodnessly rates E944 (Propane) as Safe within its rating system.
Don't decode labels by hand
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