Tartaric Acid

What Is It?

Tartaric Acid is a white crystalline organic acid. It occurs naturally in many plants, particularly grapes and tamarinds. Salts of Tartaric Acid are called Tartrates. These salts include Calcium Tartrate, Potassium Tartrate, Potassium Sodium Tartrate and Disodium Tartrate. In cosmetics and personal care products, these ingredients are used in soaps, skin care products, suntan products and hair care products.

Why Is It Used?

Tartaric Acid and its salts are used as pHA measurement of the acidity or basicity of a substance. pH is the negative logarithm (base 10) of the concentration of hydrogen ions in solution. Water has a concentration of hydrogen ions of 1.0 x 10-7, and thus has a pH of 7. A pH of 7 is considered neutral, a pH lower than 7 is considered acidic, and a pH higher than 7 is considered basic. adjusters in cosmetics and personal care products. pH Adjusters are used to control the pH of finished cosmetic products.

Scientific Facts

Tartaric Acid is an organic carboxylic acid salt. Tartaric acid occurs in many fruits. It is widely used in bakery products, gelatin desserts and in soft drinks.

Safety Information

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has reviewed the safety of Potassium Sodium Tartrate and has affirmed its status as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS“GRAS” is an acronym for the phrase Generally Recognized As Safe. Under sections 201(s) and 409 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act), any substance that is intentionally added to food is a food additive, that is subject to premarket review and approval by FDA, unless the substance is generally recognized, among qualified experts, as having been adequately shown to be safe under the conditions of its intended use, or unless the use of the substance is otherwise excluded from the definition of a food additive.) as a direct food substance. FDA has approved the use of Tartaric Acid and Potassium Sodium Tartrate in Over-the-Counter (OTC) antacid drug products. Cosmetic Ingredient ReviewThe Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) was established in 1976 as an independent safety review program for cosmetic ingredients. The CIR Expert Panel consists of independent experts in dermatology, toxicology, pharmacolgy and veterinary medicine. The CIR includes participation by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and the Consumer Federation of America. (CIR) has deferred evaluation of these ingredients because the safety has been assessed by FDA. This deferral of review is according to the provisions of the CIR Procedures.

Tartaric acid is metabolically inert in the human body. Link to FDA Code of Federal Regulations for Tartaric Acid

Link to FDA Code of Federal Regulations for Potassium Sodium Tartrate

Tartaric Acid and its salts may be used in cosmetics and personal care products marketed in the Europe according to the general provisions of the Cosmetics Regulation of the European UnionUnder the general provisions of the cosmetics regulation of the EU, ingredients appearing on the following function-specific annexes must comply with the listed restrictions and/or specifications: colorants (Annex IV), preservatives (Annex V), UV filters (Annex VI) and other ingredients with specific concentration limits and/or other restrictions (Annex III). Ingredients specifically prohibited from use in cosmetic products are listed in Annex II. Other ingredients listed in the EU cosmetic ingredient database (CosIng) may be used without restrictions..

Link to the EU Cosmetic Regulation:
http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/consumers/product_labelling_and_p…

More Scientific Information

2,3-Dihydroxybutanedioic Acid is another name for Tartaric Acid. Other technical names for Potassium Sodium Tartrate include 2,3-Dihydroxybutanedioic Acid, Monopotassium Monosodium Salt and Rochelle Salt.

Resources

Find out more about the regulation of Food Additives by the Food and Drug Administration

Food Ingredients and Packaging: http://www.fda.gov/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/default.htm

Food Contact Substances: http://www.fda.gov/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/PackagingFCS/defaul…

Substances Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS): http://www.fda.gov/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/GRAS/default.htm

Find out more about the regulation of over-the-counter drugs by the Food and Drug Administration

OTC Drug Home Page: http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/BuyingUsingMedicineSa…

Information about OTC Drug monographs: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/over-counter-otc-drug-monograph-process

Search the Code of Federal Regulations http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/cfrsearch.cfm

EU Cosmetics Inventory http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/cosmetics/cosing/