What Is Calcium Chloride?
FDA regulations at 21 CFR 184.1193, in the part covering direct food substances affirmed as generally recognized as safe, list calcium chloride food uses as including an anticaking agent, antimicrobial agent, curing or pickling agent and firming agent. They say current good manufacturing practice results in maximum levels as served of 0.3 percent for baked goods and dairy product analogs, 0.2 percent for cheese and for processed fruit and fruit juices, and 0.4 percent for condiments and relishes, among other food categories.
The solid is corrosive. The International Chemical Safety Card for anhydrous calcium chloride, published by the International Labour Organization and the World Health Organization, describes it as odorless, hygroscopic, colorless or white crystals that dissolve violently in water with the release of much heat. It says the substance is corrosive to the eyes and severely irritating to the skin, upper respiratory tract and gastrointestinal tract, lists skin redness, dry skin and skin burns, and eye redness, pain and burns, as symptoms of contact, and says repeated or prolonged contact with skin may cause dermatitis.
Sources checked September 15, 2026. Every point below links the page it came from.
The sources behind this answer
- Regulatory filingFDA rules at 21 CFR 184.1193 list calcium chloride food uses as an anticaking, antimicrobial, curing or pickling, and firming agent. US FDA, 21 CFR 184.1193 (eCFR) ↗
- Regulatory filingFDA rules say good manufacturing practice results in maximum calcium chloride levels of 0.3 percent in baked goods and 0.2 percent in cheese. US FDA, 21 CFR 184.1193 (eCFR) ↗
- Medical referenceThe International Chemical Safety Card says calcium chloride is odorless hygroscopic crystals that dissolve violently in water, releasing much heat. ILO and WHO, International Chemical Safety Card 1184 ↗
- Government sourceThe International Chemical Safety Card says calcium chloride is corrosive to the eyes and severely irritating to the skin, airways and digestive tract. ILO and WHO, International Chemical Safety Card 1184 ↗
- Government sourceThe International Chemical Safety Card lists skin redness, dry skin and skin burns, and eye redness, pain and burns, as symptoms of calcium chloride contact. ILO and WHO, International Chemical Safety Card 1184 ↗
- Government sourceThe International Chemical Safety Card says repeated or prolonged skin contact with calcium chloride may cause dermatitis. ILO and WHO, International Chemical Safety Card 1184 ↗
Sources checked September 15, 2026. A brand statement is the company’s own claim, which we report but have not verified. Our grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests.