I have to ask: If you see this on a box of instant noodles, Extremely hazardous in case of ingestion, would you avoid it? Again we see another chemicals additives that is toxic in the lab and while being handled, but as soon as it hits the store shelves, it’s perfectly safe. Yellow Prussiate of Soda is again, one of those chemicals.
I always stress regardless of the exposure limits, the actual amount in food itself, how many regulations and standards there are or how low the toxicity may be… It is the general principle that the additives are still put in the foods you eat on a daily basis.
Do you need Splash goggles, Lab coat, Dust respirator, Be sure to use an approved/certified respirator or equivalent and Gloves to cook at home? Do you have to follow safety guidelines and precautions to be able to cook “real” food?
General research
Yellow Prussiate of Soda
(Na ferrocyanide decahydrate)
The additive is used or intended for use as an anticaking agent in salt
Food grade salt may not contain contaminants in small amounts and in such form that may be harmful to the health of the consumer. Such as Arsenic, Lead, Cadmium and Mercury
The food additive yellow prussiate of soda contains a minimum of 99 percent by weight of sodium ferrocyanide decahydrate.
Used as plasticizers, as components of extreme pressure lubricants, and as flame-proofing, mold-proofing, and water-proofing agents. These products are commonly marketed in various forms depending upon their degree of chlorination which generally ranges up to about 70 percent chlorine by weight.
The cyanide ion is ubiquitous in nearly all living organisms which tolerate and even require the ion in low concentrations. The fruits and seeds (especially pits) of many plants, such as cherries, peaches, almonds, and lima beans, contain cyanogens capable of releasing free cyanide following enzymatic degradation
BECAUSE OF STRONG CHEMICAL BONDAGE BETWEEEN THE CYANIDE GROUP & THE IRON, FERROCYANIDES HAVE A LOW ORDER OF TOXICITY
DO NOT MIX WITH HOT OR CONCENTRATED ACIDS & DO NOT EXPOSE TO SUNLIGHT FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME
Production
Chlorinated in the presence of a minor amount of an additive capable of overcoming contamination present in the reaction zone
Chlorine gas is reacted with the hydrocarbon.
Poisonous Ingredient. Chlorine, which reacts with water in and out of the body to form hydrochloric acid and hypochlorous acid. Both are extremely poisonous
Sodium Ferrocyanide Decahydrate
The substance is toxic to blood, lungs, mucous membranes. Repeated or prolonged exposure to the substance can produce target organs damage.
Hazardous decomposition products formed under fire conditions. – Carbon oxides, Sodium oxides, Iron oxides
Environmental precautions Do not let product enter drains.
Extremely hazardous in case of ingestion.
Personal Protection: Splash goggles. Lab coat. Dust respirator. Be sure to use an approved/certified respirator or equivalent. Gloves.
Other Regulations:
OSHA: Hazardous by definition of Hazard Communication Standard
WHMIS (Canada): CLASS D-2A: Material causing other toxic effects (VERY TOXIC).
References
- http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9924987
- http://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/21/172.490
- http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/usa/doctrine/army/mmcch/Cyanide.htm
- http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/MSDS/MSDS/DisplayMSDSPage.do?country=US&language=en&productNumber=13425&brand=SIAL&PageToGoToURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sigmaaldrich.com%2Fcatalog%2Fproduct%2Fsial%2F13425%3Flang%3Den
- http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/search/a?dbs+hsdb:@term+@DOCNO+742
- http://www.ceecis.org/iodine/07_legislation/00_mainpage/codex_food_grade_salt.pdf
Legal G.R.A.S
http://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/21/184.1
G.R.A.S. List
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/fcn/fcnNavigation.cfm?rpt=eafusListing
Some extra reading material