Food additive databaseprocessing agentChecked 2026-10-02

Bone Charcoal 骨炭

Existing food additiveNot on the EU additive list

Purpose: processing agent
On the label: “骨炭” (bone charcoal; not labeled when it counts as a processing aid)
Name in the List of Existing Food Additives: 骨炭 (No. 126)
Source and production: Obtained by carbonizing and crushing cattle bones. The main components are calcium phosphate and carbon powder.

In Japan

A manufacturing agent made by charring and crushing cattle bones. The main components are calcium phosphate and carbon powder (Japanese Standards of Food Additives). There are no standards for use.
When labeled, it is written by its substance name “骨炭” (bone charcoal). If it counts as a processing aid, for example because it is removed during manufacturing, labeling is omitted (Food Labeling Standards).

Japan's standards for use

There are no standards for use that limit which foods or how much (the general standards for all additives still apply).

This is a summary of the standards for use. See the source list for the exact conditions.

In the EU

It is not on the EU list of food additives (Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II), so it cannot be used as a food additive in the EU.

Sources

Checked 2026-10-02. Rules and evaluations change over time. This page is a translation of our Japanese page; if they differ, the Japanese page is the reference.

This page lists facts stated in laws and in evaluations by public bodies; it is not a safety verdict. Additives used in Japan are approved by the government, which sets the foods and amounts they can be used in. The ADI is a guide to the amount that is considered safe to take every day over a lifetime.

Other substances used as processing agent

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