# Zinc Chloride

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**Safety rating:** SAFE
**CAS number:** 7646-85-7
**Category:** nutrient
**FDA GRAS:** no
**Adverse events (FDA AERS):** 0
**FDA recalls:** 0
**Last updated:** 2026-04-04

## Summary

Zinc chloride is an inorganic compound used as a nutrient supplement in food products to provide bioavailable zinc. It serves as a fortification agent in various foods and beverages to address dietary zinc deficiency.

## 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 Zinc Chloride?

Zinc chloride (CAS Number 7646-85-7) is an inorganic chemical compound composed of zinc and chloride ions. In food applications, it functions as a nutrient supplement, providing elemental zinc that the human body requires for numerous physiological processes. Zinc chloride is one of several zinc salts used in food fortification due to its solubility and bioavailability characteristics.

## Common Uses

Zinc chloride is employed as a fortification agent in food and beverage products to supplement dietary zinc intake. It may be added to cereals, grains, nutritional supplements, functional beverages, and other processed foods. The use of zinc chloride in fortification programs is particularly relevant in regions where zinc deficiency represents a public health concern. The compound's solubility makes it suitable for liquid and dry food applications.

## Safety Assessment

The FDA has not granted Zinc Chloride a GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) designation for food use, meaning it does not have blanket approval through the traditional GRAS pathway. However, the FDA has recorded zero adverse events associated with zinc chloride in foods and zero recalls related to this ingredient. This absence of reported adverse events suggests a favorable safety profile in food applications at permitted use levels.

Zinc is an essential micronutrient required for immune function, wound healing, protein synthesis, and DNA formation. The established Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for zinc ranges from 8-11 mg daily for adults, depending on age and sex. When used as a fortification agent, zinc chloride contributes to meeting these nutritional requirements. The safety of zinc supplementation depends on maintaining intake within recommended ranges, as excessive zinc consumption can interfere with copper absorption and cause adverse health effects.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has evaluated zinc compounds in food fortification contexts. While zinc chloride specifically may not have a dedicated EFSA opinion, zinc as a nutrient has been assessed for safety in fortified foods, with established tolerable upper intake levels.

## Regulatory Status

Zinc chloride's regulatory status varies by jurisdiction. In the United States, while it lacks GRAS status, it may be used in foods under specific regulatory provisions or as part of formulated nutritional products. The FDA's Food and Drug Administration maintains oversight of zinc fortification levels to ensure products do not exceed safe intake thresholds. In the European Union, zinc compounds used in food fortification must comply with Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006 on the addition of vitamins and minerals to foods.

The lack of GRAS status does not indicate unsafety; rather, it reflects the specific regulatory pathway and documentation historically submitted for this ingredient.

## Key Studies

Research on zinc bioavailability has examined various zinc salts, including zinc chloride, in food matrices. Studies indicate that zinc chloride demonstrates good solubility and bioavailability comparable to other zinc fortification agents. Zinc chloride's chloride component is present in normal dietary intake through table salt and other food sources, posing minimal additional concern.

Nutritional studies on zinc fortification programs have documented the effectiveness of various zinc compounds in addressing population-level zinc deficiency, though specific efficacy data for zinc chloride versus other salts varies. The zero adverse event reports in FDA records for this ingredient over decades of potential food use suggests adequate safety margins in practical 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. "Zinc Chloride — Safety, regulation, and evidence." https://additivefacts.com/additives/zinc-chloride. Accessed 2026-05-20.