Tannic Acid - Use in Food

Use in Food

Use of tannic acid in food applications is far more widespread and significant amounts are used as process aids in beer clarification, aroma compound in soft drinks and juices. Equally important are applications in the wine industry, where it finds use as a natural clarifying agent, colour stabilizer and taste enhancer.

In many parts of the world such uses are permitted. In the United States, tannic acid is generally recognized as safe by the Food and Drug Administration.

According to EU directive 89/107/EEC tannic acid cannot be considered as a food additive and consequently does not hold an E number. Under directive 89/107/EEC tannic acid can be referred to as a food ingredient. The E-number E181 is sometimes incorrectly used to refer to tannic acid; this in fact refers to the INS number assigned to tannic acid under the FAO-WHO Codex Alimentarius system.