Food additive databaseantioxidantChecked 2026-10-02

Gallic Acid 没食子酸

Existing food additiveNot on the EU additive list

Purpose: antioxidant
On the label: “酸化防止剤（没食子酸）” (antioxidant (gallic acid))
Name in the List of Existing Food Additives: 没食子酸 (No. 275)
Source and production: Gallic acid obtained by hydrolyzing tannin from Chinese gallnut, tara powder, or oak gall with an alkali or an enzyme (tannase).

In Japan

An antioxidant obtained by hydrolyzing tannin obtained from Chinese gallnut and similar sources. There are no standards for use.
Because it is an antioxidant, the purpose name must be written alongside, as in “酸化防止剤（没食子酸）” (antioxidant (gallic acid)). The designated additive propyl gallate (which has standards for use) also has the short name “没食子酸”, so “没食子酸” alone on a label does not tell you which one it is.

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.
Propyl gallate (E310) is listed.

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 antioxidant

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