E260 · CAS 64-19-7 · HS 2915.21

Food Grade Glacial Acetic Acid

Food Grade Glacial Acetic Acid is the high-purity, water-free form of acetic acid (CH₃COOH) produced and certified to food-additive specifications for direct use as an acidulant, preservative, and flavouring agent.

Concentrated above 99.85 percent by weight, it freezes to ice-like crystals just below 17 degrees Celsius, the property from which the term glacial is derived. At food-grade quality the material is water-white, free of formaldehyde and reducible substances, and carries a clean, sharp vinegar odour without solvent or sulfurous notes.

The food-grade designation imposes tightened limits on iron, heavy metals, residual aldehydes, and colour (Pt-Co scale) that go well beyond those of the technical grade, enabling direct use in vinegar manufacture, pickling brines, and flavour compounding.

We source bulk Food Grade Glacial Acetic Acid from top China manufacturers for our partners. The manufacturers are in Guangxi and Henan. For this ingredient the minimum order is 500 kg and a 20-foot container takes 22 MT, and a smaller requirement can ship in a combined container with other ingredients.

Please send the grade you need, the volume and your destination port, and we will come back with a solution and a price.

or call +86-21-6858 0751

Minimum order: 500 kg
Qty in 20' FCL: 22 MT
Packaging: 250 kg plastic drum or 1,000 kg IBC tote

ISO 9001
HACCP
Halal
Kosher

Specifications

Grades / Types Available: Food Grade

Item	Specification
Appearance	Clear, colorless liquid
Assay (Acetic Acid content)	≥ 99.5%
Boiling Point	117–118 °C
Freezing Point	≥ 16.0 °C
Color (APHA)	≤ 10
Formic Acid	≤ 0.05%
Aldehyde (as Acetaldehyde)	≤ 0.05%
Heavy Metals (as Pb)	≤ 5 mg/kg
Lead (as Pb)	≤ 1 mg/kg
Arsenic (as As)	≤ 0.5 mg/kg
Iron (as Fe)	≤ 2 mg/kg
Total Plate Count	≤ 100 CFU/mL
Purity/Assay	≥ 99.5%
Moisture/Loss on Drying	≤ 0.5%
pH	2.4 - 3.0
Yeast & Mold	≤ 10 CFU/g

Common Markets Grades

Food Grade Glacial Acetic Acid comes at a single concentration tier above 99.85 percent, and grades differ instead by the strictness of trace-impurity controls.

The standard food grade meets the Food Chemicals Codex (FCC) monograph for acetic acid, with permanganate reduction time above 30 minutes, colour below 10 on the Pt-Co scale, and iron below 5 mg/kg.

A premium vinegar-base grade tightens these limits further, with permanganate reduction time above 60 minutes and an aldehyde content below 5 mg/kg, producing a synthetic vinegar base that is virtually indistinguishable in sensory profile from biologically fermented spirit vinegar.

Diluted food-grade dilutions at 80 percent, 70 percent, and 30 percent are prepared by dilution with deionized water for ease of metering, freezing-point depression in cold climates, and direct use in pickling and condiment lines.

A separate pharmaceutical-grade material is produced to USP and Ph. Eur. monographs for use as an excipient in topical antiseptics, hemodialysis concentrates, and ear drops.

Applications

Synthetic vinegar production by dilution to 4 to 8 percent acetic strength
Pickling brines for cucumbers, peppers, onions, and mixed vegetables
Mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, and emulsified sauces for pH control
Salad dressings, marinades, and meat tenderizers
Bakery applications including sourdough simulators and mould inhibition in breads
Cheese manufacture as an acidulant in mozzarella and processed cheese
Canned vegetables, fish, and seafood for acidification to pH below 4.6
Beverage acidification in fruit drinks and shrubs
Confectionery, particularly sour candy syrups and gummy pectin systems
Flavour compounding for vinegar, fruit, and dairy notes
Hard candy and chewing-gum acid blends
Direct addition to ready-meals and chilled deli salads for shelf-life extension

Brands Using Food Grade Glacial Acetic Acid

Widely-distributed consumer products that list Food Grade Glacial Acetic Acid on the ingredient label.

Brand names, product names and logos are the property of their owners. They appear here as published evidence that the ingredient is used, taken from the brand's own label or website. Their appearance is not an endorsement, and it does not mean the brand buys from us or from any manufacturer listed on this site.

China Manufacturers of Food Grade Glacial Acetic Acid

Top Food Grade Glacial Acetic Acid manufacturers in China.

Company names and logos are the property of the manufacturers themselves. They are listed here because our own directory records them as producing this ingredient. A listing is not an endorsement by them, and we do not represent them or speak on their behalf.

How We Help Source Food Grade Glacial Acetic Acid

Direct Factory Sourcing
We run the whole process: selecting the manufacturer from the top Chinese food ingredient producers, negotiating the price, verifying quality, and coordinating the logistics. You deal with us instead of with several factories at once.
Original Packaging and Documents from the Manufacturer
The manufacturer sends your Food Grade Glacial Acetic Acid out of its own factory in the original packing, through to your destination port. The COA, COO, MSDS, TDS and any certifications reach you from the manufacturer as well.
Free Samples and Lead Time
We send 100 to 500 g free for your own laboratory to test and you cover only the courier, usually within 2 to 3 working days. ETD is usually within 7 to 15 days once the order is confirmed, and we check that date against the factory's own manufacturing schedule before we give it to you.
Combined Shipment
We can load Food Grade Glacial Acetic Acid together with other ingredients such as Calcium Acetate, Citric Acid and Glucono-Delta-Lactone into one 20' FCL. If your quantity is small, we can also ship LCL.

Regulatory Status

Acetic acid is approved as a food additive in every regulated market.

In the European Union, Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 permits it at quantum satis under the E number E260 across most food categories, including direct use as an acidulant and preservative.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration classifies acetic acid as Generally Recognized as Safe under 21 CFR 184.1005 for use as a flavouring agent, pH control agent, and preservative. It also appears in the food contact substance lists under 21 CFR 178.

JECFA has evaluated acetic acid and its potassium, sodium, calcium, and ammonium salts and concluded that an acceptable daily intake need not be specified, given the molecule's natural occurrence and metabolism.

Monographs covering food-grade material appear in the Food Chemicals Codex, the United States Pharmacopeia (for pharmaceutical use), the European Pharmacopoeia, and the Japanese Pharmacopoeia. Halal and Kosher certifications are routinely available for synthetic glacial acetic acid, since no animal-derived feedstock is involved.

Manufacturing Process

Food Grade Glacial Acetic Acid Manufacturing Process

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Food Grade Glacial Acetic Acid is manufactured to the same molecular endpoint as the technical grade but passes through additional purification stages and tighter raw-material controls.

Methanol carbonylation is the dominant route, using carbon monoxide and methanol over a rhodium or iridium catalyst (Monsanto and Cativa processes) at around 150 to 200 degrees Celsius and 3 to 6 MPa. The crude acetic acid is separated from catalyst and water by multistage distillation.

For food-grade material the distillate is treated with potassium permanganate or similar oxidants to eliminate trace aldehydes, then passed through guard columns to remove iodide species residual from the carbonylation catalyst. A final azeotropic or extractive distillation step removes water to deliver glacial concentration.

Storage and handling for food-grade material use stainless-steel 316L or fully fluoropolymer-lined vessels and lines, since iron pickup is the most common cause of colour failure. Quality release routinely includes permanganate reduction time, colour, iron, heavy metals, and residual aldehyde testing against the FCC monograph.