E926 – Chlorine dioxide
Flour treatment agentDescription
Yellowish-red to greenish-yellow gas or liquid with a pungent, irritating odor; strong oxidizing agent used as a bleaching agent for flour and as a disinfectant for water
Notes
Chlorine dioxide is a yellowish-red gas that's produced by mixing sodium chlorite with an acid, creating a powerful bleaching compound. Despite being a gas in its pure form, it's typically dissolved in water to create a solution that can be safely handled and used in food processing facilities. This additive serves as a bleaching agent specifically for flour, helping to whiten it and give it that bright, clean appearance that many consumers expect from refined flour products. You'll find flour treated with chlorine dioxide in many commercial baked goods, including bread, cakes, pastries, and other products made with bleached all-purpose flour. Chlorine dioxide is a synthetic chemical compound, not found naturally in foods. It's suitable for vegetarian and vegan diets since it doesn't come from animal sources, and it doesn't contain common allergens. The compound breaks down during processing and baking, leaving minimal residues in the final food products. It's approved for use in many countries, though some regions prefer alternative flour treatment methods.