# Sodium Glucoheptonate

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**Safety rating:** SAFE
**CAS number:** 31138-65-5
**Category:** other
**FDA GRAS:** no
**Adverse events (FDA AERS):** 0
**FDA recalls:** 0
**Last updated:** 2026-04-04

## Summary

Sodium glucoheptonate is a sodium salt of glucoheptonic acid, a seven-carbon sugar acid. It is primarily used as a boiler water additive in food processing equipment rather than as a direct food ingredient, functioning to prevent scale and corrosion in industrial steam generation systems.

## Regulatory status

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

## Detailed analysis

## What is Sodium Glucoheptonate?

Sodium glucoheptonate (CAS Number 31138-65-5) is the sodium salt derivative of glucoheptonic acid, an organic compound derived from glucose. This additive belongs to the broader category of gluconic acid derivatives and related compounds. The molecular structure consists of a seven-carbon sugar acid backbone with a sodium counterion, making it a water-soluble compound suitable for aqueous industrial applications.

## Common Uses

Sodium glucoheptonate is utilized exclusively as a boiler water additive in food processing and beverage production facilities. In this application, it serves as a threshold inhibitor and chelating agent, preventing the formation of mineral scale deposits on boiler interior surfaces. Scale buildup—composed primarily of calcium and magnesium salts—reduces heat transfer efficiency, increases energy consumption, and can damage equipment. By chelating these minerals and inhibiting their precipitation, sodium glucoheptonate helps maintain boiler efficiency and extends equipment lifespan. This application is indirect; the additive remains in the boiler water system and does not become part of the final food product consumed by the public.

## Safety Assessment

Sodium glucoheptonate has not been evaluated by the FDA under the Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) program, which is consistent with its classification as a processing aid rather than a food additive intended for direct consumption. The FDA maintains zero recorded adverse events associated with this substance, and no product recalls related to sodium glucoheptonate have been documented in the FDA database. This lack of reported incidents reflects both the indirect nature of its use and the safety profile established through its industrial application history.

The toxicological properties of sodium glucoheptonate are expected to be favorable given its similarity to gluconic acid derivatives, which have extensive safe use histories in food processing. As a chelating agent derived from natural sugar chemistry, it is biodegradable and environmentally compatible. However, comprehensive independent safety studies specifically examining this compound appear limited in publicly available literature, which is typical for specialized industrial processing aids with narrow applications and indirect food contact.

## Regulatory Status

In the United States, sodium glucoheptonate does not require FDA GRAS certification because it functions as a processing aid in boiler systems rather than as a food additive with direct food contact or ingestion. The FDA's regulations under 21 CFR Part 173 address indirect food additives, including substances used in boiler water treatment, provided they are used in accordance with good manufacturing practices and do not migrate into food products in amounts that would constitute a safety concern.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and other international regulatory bodies similarly classify gluconic acid derivatives and their salts as substances with established safety profiles in industrial applications. Sodium glucoheptonate aligns with international standards for boiler water treatment chemicals used in food manufacturing facilities.

## Key Studies

While specific published studies examining sodium glucoheptonate in isolation are not widely documented in consumer-accessible scientific literature, the safety of gluconic acid and its derivatives has been established through decades of industrial use. The compound's chemical structure and mechanism of action—chelation and threshold inhibition—are well-understood within water treatment chemistry. Safety data for related compounds in the gluconic acid family support the expected safety profile of this sodium salt derivative.

Industrial water treatment guidelines and best practices developed by organizations such as the Association of Commercial Water Conditioners (ACWC) recognize glucoheptonate derivatives as acceptable components in boiler water treatment programs for food facilities, subject to proper application and water discharge compliance.

The absence of adverse event reports and recalls in FDA databases, combined with its limited indirect exposure pathway, indicates sodium glucoheptonate presents minimal risk within its established industrial applications.

## 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. "Sodium Glucoheptonate — Safety, regulation, and evidence." https://additivefacts.com/additives/sodium-glucoheptonate. Accessed 2026-05-19.