{"data":{"id":"us/21-cfr-172.880","jurisdiction":"us","citation":"21 CFR 172.880","heading":"Petrolatum.","body":"Petrolatum may be safely used in food, subject to the provisions of this section.\n(a) Petrolatum complies with the specifications set forth in the United States Pharmacopeia XX (1980) for white petrolatum or in the National Formulary XV (1980) for petrolatum.\n(b) Petrolatum meets the following ultraviolet absorbance limits when subjected to the analytical procedure described in § 172.886(b):\nUltraviolet absorbance per centimeter path length:\nMillimicrons Maximum\n280-289 0.25\n290-299 .20\n300-359 .14\n360-400 .04\n(c) Petrolatum is used or intended for use as follows:\nUse Limitation (inclusive of all petroleum hydrocarbons that may be used in combination with petrolatum)\nIn bakery products; as release agent and lubricant With white mineral oil, not to exceed 0.15 percent of bakery product.\nIn confectionery; as release agent and as sealing and polishing agent Not to exceed 0.2 percent of confectionery.\nIn dehydrated fruits and vegetables; as release agent Not to exceed 0.02 percent of dehydrated fruits and vegetables.\nIn egg white solids; as release agent Not to exceed 0.1 percent of egg white solids.\nOn raw fruits and vegetables; as protective coating In an amount not to exceed good manufacturing practice.\nIn beet sugar and yeast; as defoaming agent As prescribed in § 173.340 of this chapter.\n(d) Petrolatum may contain any antioxidant permitted in food by regulations issued in accordance with section 409 of the Act, in an amount not greater than that required to produce its intended effect.","path":["Title 21—Food and Drugs","CHAPTER I—FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","SUBCHAPTER B—FOOD FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION","PART 172—FOOD ADDITIVES PERMITTED FOR DIRECT ADDITION TO FOOD FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION","Subpart I—Multipurpose Additives"],"source_url":"https://www.ecfr.gov/api/versioner/v1/full/2026-08-25/title-21.xml","current_through":"2026-08-25","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-27T02:24:47Z","sha256":"700d4703b09e5249ec9f239d6c1f829de1abb8171a422aaa3fb8c231fe229c67","source_id":"us-cfr","stale":true,"prev":"us/21-cfr-172.878","next":"us/21-cfr-172.882"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}