# Hydrazine

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**Safety rating:** AVOID
**CAS number:** 302-01-2
**Category:** other
**FDA GRAS:** no
**Adverse events (FDA AERS):** 0
**FDA recalls:** 0
**Last updated:** 2026-04-02

## Summary

Hydrazine (CAS 302-01-2) is a colorless, flammable chemical compound primarily used in industrial applications such as rocket fuel and water treatment. Its function in food, if any, remains undocumented in available literature.

## Regulatory status

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

## Detailed analysis

## What is Hydrazine?

Hydrazine is a simple chemical compound with the molecular formula N₂H₄. It is a colorless, oily liquid with a pungent ammonia-like odor that is highly flammable and explosive in certain concentrations. Hydrazine is primarily synthesized through industrial processes and is known for its strong reducing properties, making it valuable in various chemical reactions.

## Common Uses

Historically, hydrazine has been utilized in several industrial applications, most notably as a propellant in rocket fuel and spacecraft systems. It is also employed in water treatment processes, particularly in boiler water treatment where it functions as an oxygen scavenger to prevent corrosion. Additionally, hydrazine has applications in the production of pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and various specialty chemicals. However, its use as a food additive is not documented in standard food industry literature or regulatory databases.

## Safety Assessment

Hydrazine presents significant occupational and environmental safety concerns. It is classified as a hazardous chemical due to its flammability, toxicity, and potential for explosive decomposition under certain conditions. Animal studies have demonstrated that hydrazine exposure can cause liver and kidney damage, neurological effects, and has shown mutagenic potential in laboratory settings. The chemical is readily absorbed through skin contact and inhalation, making workplace exposure a primary concern.

Regarding food safety specifically, there are no documented adverse events reported to the FDA associated with hydrazine as a food additive, and no FDA recalls involving this substance have been recorded. This absence of reported incidents may reflect its extremely limited or non-existent use in food products rather than demonstrated safety.

## Regulatory Status

Hydrazine is not included on the FDA's Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) list, meaning it has not been affirmed as safe for use in food. The compound is not approved as a food additive in the United States or in the European Union. Its hazardous properties and lack of any documented food application suggest it was never intended for or considered for food use. The chemical is heavily regulated as an industrial substance, and its production, handling, and disposal are subject to strict Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements.

International regulatory bodies, including the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), have not established acceptable intake levels for hydrazine in food, further confirming its exclusion from food applications.

## Key Studies

Occupational health research has extensively documented hydrazine's toxic effects. Studies have shown that chronic exposure to hydrazine vapor can result in adverse health outcomes including peripheral neuropathy, liver enlargement, and immune system effects. Animal carcinogenicity studies have raised concerns about potential cancer risk, though human epidemiological data remains limited due to its restricted occupational use.

Given hydrazine's industrial classification, hazardous properties, and complete lack of documented food applications, scientific literature on its use as a food additive does not exist. The substance appears to have no legitimate place in food manufacturing or processing.

## 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. "Hydrazine — Safety, regulation, and evidence." https://additivefacts.com/additives/hydrazine. Accessed 2026-05-18.