# Cobaltous Chloride

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**Safety rating:** AVOID
**CAS number:** 7646-79-9
**Category:** other
**FDA GRAS:** no
**Adverse events (FDA AERS):** 0
**FDA recalls:** 0
**Last updated:** 2026-04-02

## Summary

Cobaltous chloride is an inorganic compound containing cobalt that has been prohibited for use in food by the FDA. While cobalt is an essential trace element in vitamin B12, this specific salt form is not approved for direct food additive use due to safety concerns.

## Regulatory status

| Country | Status |
| --- | --- |
| United States | approved |
| European Union | not_evaluated |
| United Kingdom | banned |
| Canada | banned |
| Australia | banned |
| Japan | banned |
| South Korea | banned |
| Brazil | banned |
| China | banned |
| India | banned |

## Detailed analysis

## What is Cobaltous Chloride?

Cobaltous chloride (CoCl2) is an inorganic chemical compound consisting of cobalt and chloride ions. It is a crystalline solid that is highly soluble in water and has been investigated for various industrial and pharmaceutical applications. While cobalt itself is an essential micronutrient required for human health—primarily as a component of vitamin B12 (cobalamin)—cobaltous chloride in its pure form is distinct from naturally occurring cobalt compounds found in food.

## Common Uses

Historically, cobaltous chloride has been explored for limited food applications, though approved uses in food have been extremely restricted globally. The compound has been used as a tracer in scientific research and in industrial applications. However, its primary consideration in food safety contexts stems from regulatory assessments rather than widespread commercial use. The specific function of cobaltous chloride as a food additive remains undefined in regulatory databases, suggesting it was never formally established for food purposes.

## Safety Assessment

Cobaltous chloride is classified as a prohibited substance in food by the FDA. This prohibition reflects concerns regarding its safety profile when used as an additive, even though the FDA's adverse event database shows zero reported incidents and zero recalls associated with this compound. The absence of reported adverse events does not indicate approval; rather, it reflects the prohibition's effectiveness in preventing market exposure.

Scientific research has documented that excessive cobalt exposure can cause various health effects, including cardiomyopathy, thyroid dysfunction, and neurological effects. The distinction between cobalt as an essential nutrient and cobaltous chloride as a chemical additive is important: naturally occurring cobalt in foods and vitamin B12 is tightly regulated by biological systems, whereas direct chemical exposure presents different risk considerations.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has similarly restricted cobalt compounds in food, recognizing that while trace cobalt is essential, uncontrolled exposure to cobalt salts presents safety concerns. Individual cobalt salts require separate assessment from dietary cobalt considerations.

## Regulatory Status

Cobaltous chloride is explicitly prohibited for use as a food additive under FDA regulations. This prohibition has been maintained as part of the agency's ongoing assessment of food safety. The compound does not appear on the Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) list and is not approved for any food application in the United States.

Regulatory bodies worldwide, including those in the European Union, Canada, and Australia, have similarly restricted or prohibited cobaltous chloride in food. This coordinated approach reflects a consistent assessment across major regulatory agencies that the risks of this compound in food use outweigh any potential benefits.

## Key Studies

Research on cobalt toxicity has been instrumental in regulatory decisions. Studies examining occupational cobalt exposure and experimental animal studies have documented concerning health effects at elevated exposure levels. Scientific literature emphasizes the difference between cobalt deficiency (which can occur in severe malnutrition) and cobalt excess, with the latter presenting clear toxicological concerns.

The prohibition of cobaltous chloride should be understood within the context of risk-benefit analysis: since adequate cobalt intake can be achieved through normal dietary sources of vitamin B12 and cobalt-containing foods, the addition of cobaltous chloride as a direct additive provides no nutritional benefit while introducing exposure risks.

## Sources

- FDA Substances Added to Food (CFSAN)
- OpenFDA Adverse Event Reporting System (AERS)
- OpenFDA Food Recalls
- EFSA OpenFoodTox
- EU Food Additive Portal

## Citation

Additive Facts. "Cobaltous Chloride — Safety, regulation, and evidence." https://additivefacts.com/additives/cobaltous-chloride-prohibited. Accessed 2026-05-12.