{"id":15875,"date":"2020-07-31T09:00:13","date_gmt":"2020-07-31T13:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vrg.org\/blog\/?p=15875"},"modified":"2020-07-22T12:55:14","modified_gmt":"2020-07-22T16:55:14","slug":"yellow-prussiate-of-soda-a-cyanide-containing-salt-additive-is-vegan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vrg.org\/blog\/2020\/07\/31\/yellow-prussiate-of-soda-a-cyanide-containing-salt-additive-is-vegan\/","title":{"rendered":"Yellow Prussiate of Soda, a Cyanide-Containing Salt Additive, Is Vegan"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

By Jeanne Yacoubou, MS<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Vegetarian Resource Group received an email from a reader in April 2020 asking: \u201cIs yellow prussiate of\nsoda vegan?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here is our answer:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yellow prussiate of soda<\/a> (YPS) is\na hydrated cyanide salt approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for\nuse in table salt as an anti-caking agent, giving it Generally Regarded as Safe\n(GRAS) status. It may appear on an ingredient label as sodium ferrocyanide\ndecahydrate.<\/em> Other ways\nthe name appears<\/a> on a label are possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

NOTE:<\/strong> Inhalation or ingestion of cyanide salts can be\nfatal. The Agency\nfor Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)<\/a> states:\n\u201cIngestion of hydrogen cyanide solutions or cyanide salts can be rapidly\nfatal…Treatment of ingested cyanide salts is similar to treatment of oral\nhydrogen cyanide poisoning because cyanide salts form hydrogen cyanide in\nacidic conditions.\u201d (Stomach pH is acidic.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The estimate<\/a> of the daily acceptable limit of YPS in humans at which no\ntoxicological effects are observed (extrapolated from rat studies) is 0.025\nmg\/kg of body weight. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although The VRG hasn’t\nseen YPS on most table salt brands or varieties recently, we found a\nphoto<\/a> of the ingredients\nlabel of Morton’s\u00ae<\/sup> Kosher Salt that does contain YPS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The VRG contacted three\ncompanies that manufacture or distribute YPS or products that contain it to\nfind out its vegan status.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is what we learned:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Morton\u00ae\n Salt<\/a><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    We sent an email to\nMorton Salt asking about its Star-Flake\u00ae\nDendritic Salt<\/a> that contains YPS. We asked if it was completely\nmineral-based with no processing by animal- or dairy-derived ingredients. The\nconsumer representative did not have information on this, and said it was an\nindustrial product. Upon closer inspection of their website, we found an email\naddress for inquiries into the company’s industrial products. We asked,\n“… I’d like to know if the yellow prussiate of soda in your dendritic\nsalt is completely mineral-based? In other words, it contains no animal or\ndairy ingredients and wasn’t manufactured with animal or dairy-derived processing\naids?\u201d The next morning, we received an email response from the industrial\nproducts division at Morton Salt. Technical Documentation Specialist Claudia\ntold us: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cYPS is synthetic but is\nultimately derived from minerals. I\u2019ve included a copy of our vegetarian\/vegan\nstatement.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Here is the statement\nfrom Morton Salt:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cThe following products\nmanufactured by Morton Salt, Inc. are suitable for consumption by individuals\nfollowing a vegan, lacto-ovo-vegetarian, or lacto-vegetarian diet. There is no\nexposure or contact to foods of animal origin in processing equipment, storage\nor handling procedures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Food Processing<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Coarse Sea Salt<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Culinox\u00ae 999\u00ae Fine Salt<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Culinox\u00ae 999\u00ae Food Grade<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Salt<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Dried Coarse Salt<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Extra Coarse Sea Salt<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Extra Fine 200 Salt<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Extra Fine 325 Salt<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Flour Sea Salt<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Flour Salt<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    H.G. Blending Salt<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    H.G. Blending Prepared\nSalt<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Iodized Salt<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Iodized Flour Salt\n(Mexico)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Iodized Snack Flour Salt<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    (Mexico)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Iodized Star Flake\u00ae\nDendritic<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    ES Salt<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Iodized Table Salt\n(Mexico)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Iodized PureSunTM\nCulinary<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Crystals<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    KaliSel<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Lite Salt\u00ae Mixture<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Medium Sea Salt<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Potassium Chloride, USP<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    PureSunTM Culinary\nCrystals<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Purex\u00ae Salt<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Purex\u00ae All Purpose Salt<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Purex\u00ae Fine Prepared\nSalt<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Reagent Grade Sodium<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Chloride<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Rock Koshering Salt<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Rock Pretzel Salt<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Sea Salt<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Select Sea Salt<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Snack Flour Salt<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Star Flake\u00ae Dendritic ES\nSalt<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Star Flake\u00ae Dendritic\nSalt<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    TCP Extra Fine 70 Sea\nSalt<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    TFC 999\u00ae Fine Salt<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    TFC 999\u00ae Salt<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    TFC Extra Fine 50 Sea\nSalt<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    TFC H.G. Blending Salt<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    TFC Lite Salt\u00ae Mixture<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    TFC Medium Sea Salt<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    TFC PureSunTM Culinary<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Crystals<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    TFC Purex\u00ae Salt<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    TFC Sea Salt<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    TFC Select Sea Salt<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Top Flake Coarse Salt<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Top Flake Extra Coarse\nSalt<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Top Flake Fine Salt<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Top Flake Topping Salt<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    USP Salt (Sodium\nChloride)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    White Pretzel Coarse\nSalt<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    White Pretzel Medium\nSalt<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Consumer\/Food Service<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    All-Purpose Iodized Sea\nSalt<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    All-Purpose Natural Sea\nSalt<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Canning\/Pickling Salt<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Coarse Kosher Salt<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Evaporated Granulated\nSalt<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Extra Fine Sea Salt<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Iodized Table Salt<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Iodized Salt<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Lite Salt\u00ae Mixture<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Popcorn Salt<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Salt Balance<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Salt Substitute<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Sea Salt \u2013Coarse Salt<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Sea Salt \u2013 Fine Salt<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Sea Salt Grinder<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Sea Salt Grinder Refill<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Table Salt, Non-Iodized<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Vacuum Granulated Salt\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1. Davis Wholesale\n Supply\u00ae<\/sup><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      An online search for YPS\nled The VRG to Davis Wholesale Supply, distributors of Alberger\u00ae Shur-Flo\u00ae\nFine Flakes and Flour Salts<\/a> with YPS listed as an ingredient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Company employee Kim\nsent us a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) on YPS that did not have ingredient source\ninformation. The SDS stated recommended use:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \u201cSalt may be intended\nfor food or animal feed (agricultural) as well as several industrial\napplications including deicing and water conditioning.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Upon our request, Davis\nemployee Kim contacted Cargill<\/a>, the manufacturer of the salt, about its vegan\nstatus. She specifically asked if animal or dairy ingredients were used in the\nmanufacture of Alberger Shur-Flo Fine Flake Salt. In response, Cargill sent Kim\nthis statement titled \u201cVegetarian\/Vegan Statement: Cargill Salt.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      In its entirety:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \u201cThe US FDA has not\ndefined vegetarian or vegan. The Cargill ingredients covered by this letter\nhave not been produced from animal (including fish), dairy, or egg products and\nthese products have not been added by Cargill to the Cargill ingredients.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      1. American Elements\u00ae<\/sup><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

        The VRG also inquired\nabout YPS manufactured by American Elements<\/a>. Product Engineer Kristi told us: \u201cAs far as I\nknow, none of our materials are animal- or dairy-based\/derived.\u201d Currently,\nthey are offering only research-grade materials, not food-grade YPS. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        VRG Conclusion about YPS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        According to three\ncompanies that manufacture YPS or make products containing it, yellow prussiate\nof soda is vegan. It is derived from minerals with no animal- or dairy-derived\nprocessing aids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        For more information on\nother food ingredients, please see VRG\u2019s Guide to\nFood Ingredients<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        The contents of this posting, our\nwebsite, and our other publications, including Vegetarian Journal, are not\nintended to provide personal medical advice. Medical advice should be obtained\nfrom a qualified health professional. We often depend on product and ingredient\ninformation from company statements. It is impossible to be 100% sure about a\nstatement, info can change, people have different views, and mistakes can be\nmade. Please use your best judgment about whether a product is suitable for\nyou. To be sure, do further research or confirmation on your own.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        By Jeanne Yacoubou, MS The Vegetarian Resource Group received an email from a reader in April 2020 asking: \u201cIs yellow prussiate of soda vegan?\u201d Here is our answer: Yellow prussiate of soda (YPS) is a hydrated cyanide salt approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in table salt as an anti-caking agent, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15875","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vrg.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15875","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vrg.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vrg.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vrg.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vrg.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15875"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.vrg.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15875\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15877,"href":"https:\/\/www.vrg.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15875\/revisions\/15877"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vrg.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15875"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vrg.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15875"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vrg.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15875"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}