What is Magnesium Myristate?
Magnesium myristate (CAS number 4086-70-8) is an organic salt formed from magnesium and myristic acid, a saturated fatty acid naturally occurring in coconut oil and other plant sources. The compound appears as a white to off-white powder. It belongs to the class of magnesium fatty acid salts, which are widely used in food manufacturing to improve texture and handling properties.
Common Uses
Magnesium myristate serves multiple functional roles in food production. As an anticaking agent, it prevents clumping and maintains free-flowing properties in powdered products such as spices, seasoning blends, dry soup mixes, and powdered sugar. Its emulsifying properties help stabilize mixtures of oil and water-based ingredients, improving product consistency and shelf stability. The lubricant properties reduce friction during manufacturing processes, protecting product integrity and improving production efficiency.
This additive is particularly valued in products requiring extended shelf life and consistent texture, where moisture absorption or ingredient separation could compromise quality.
Safety Assessment
Magnesium myristate has no reported adverse events in FDA databases and is not associated with any food recalls. The additive's safety profile is supported by its composition—both magnesium and myristic acid are substances with established histories of use in food and are recognized as safe by regulatory agencies in various forms.
Magnesium is an essential mineral required for numerous physiological functions in humans, and dietary exposure to magnesium salts is generally well-tolerated. Myristic acid is a common fatty acid present naturally in many foods, including dairy products and plant oils, making it a familiar component of the diet.
Toxicological studies on similar magnesium fatty acid salts have not revealed safety concerns at levels used in food applications. The amount of magnesium myristate used in foods is typically very small—usually in the range of 0.5% to 2% by weight of the product.
Regulatory Status
Magnesium myristate is not on the FDA's Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) list, which means it has not undergone the formal FDA GRAS notification process. However, the lack of GRAS status does not indicate safety concerns; rather, it reflects that manufacturers have not submitted documentation to establish GRAS status through the formal regulatory pathway.
The additive may be used in foods under FDA regulations as a food additive, provided it meets regulatory requirements and use levels are appropriate. In the European Union, magnesium salts of fatty acids, including magnesium myristate, are approved as food additives under specific regulations with designated E-numbers for certain applications.
The absence of regulatory bans or restrictions across major food regulatory agencies suggests acceptance of its use under defined conditions.
Key Studies
While specific research on magnesium myristate is limited in published literature, the safety profile of similar compounds—including other magnesium fatty acid salts—has been evaluated in food safety contexts. These compounds are characterized as having low oral toxicity.
The chemical structure and metabolic fate of magnesium myristate would be expected to follow typical pathways for magnesium salts and fatty acids: magnesium is absorbed or excreted through normal physiological mechanisms, while myristic acid is metabolized similarly to other dietary fatty acids.
Regulatory agencies in multiple countries have determined acceptable use levels for related magnesium fatty acid salts based on available safety data and traditional use in food manufacturing.