Azodicarbonamide and carbamide
A flour bleaching agent that is a known respiratory sensitiser for workers handling it.
- Category
- Flour treatment agents
- Vegan
- Yes
- Vegetarian
- Yes
What it is
E927 is the legacy umbrella code covering two unrelated compounds, since separated into E927a (azodicarbonamide, a flour treatment) and E927b (carbamide, also called urea, a chewing-gum ingredient).
How it is used in food
Azodicarbonamide bleaches and strengthens dough; carbamide buffers acid in sugar-free gum.
Commonly found in- None (Banned)
Health and safety
Repeated inhalation of the dust can cause occupational asthma. Its breakdown products in baked goods, semicarbazide and urethane, have been raised as a concern.
Not authorised in the EU as a flour treatment. Read E927a and E927b separately; this code tells you only that one of them is present.
Regulatory status
| Region | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Australia & New Zealand FSANZ |
Not approved | Not approved for general food use or historically banned due to safety concerns. |
| European Union EFSA / European Commission |
Not approved | Not on the EU authorised list of food additives (Annex II). |
| United States FDA (Food and Drug Administration) |
Not approved | Not approved for general food use or historically banned due to safety concerns. |
Identification on labels
- E-number
- E927
Worth knowing
Azodicarbonamide is the "yoga mat chemical" of the 2014 headlines — it really is used as a foaming agent in plastics, which is true but says little about the amounts used in flour.
Conclusion
A banned, highly toxic dough conditioner.
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Open the appEntry last reviewed 2026-08-05.
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