YenzoWhat is E942 (nitrous oxide)?
Appendix 1 of Circular 24/2019/TT-BYT lists the function of Nitrous oxide (INS 942) as: propellant, foaming agent, packaging gas, antioxidant.
E942Nitrous oxide
E942 is Nitrous oxide. Appendix 1 of Circular 24/2019/TT-BYT lists its function as propellant, foaming agent, packaging gas, antioxidant.
- Code
- E942 · INS 942
In Vietnam✓ PermittedOn the list of permitted additives — Circular 24/2019, Appendix 1
Risk level on the Yenzo Scalevery low?Based on the Open Food Facts additives taxonomy
How E942 appears on labels
IngredientsIllustrative example
Wheat flour, vegetable oil, salt, sugar, propellant (942), dried onion and garlic, pepper, natural colour (160a).
propellant (942)propellant 942E942INS 942On Vietnamese labels: Khí nitơ oxyd
Nitrous oxide in food
Heat-treated fermented milk
Sterilised cream and whipping cream
Peeled or cut fresh fruit
Dried pasta and noodles
Fresh molluscs and crustaceansFrozen fishOther sugars and syrups
Questions about nitrous oxide
Is nitrous oxide harmful?
JECFA listed the ADI of nitrous oxide (INS 942) as "not specified", meaning no numerical ADI is needed. In 1985 JECFA concluded that its food use as a propellant was acceptable; in 2000 it could not evaluate the use as a packaging gas because no information on intake was available.
Is E942 permitted in Vietnam?
Yes. Nitrous oxide (INS 942) is listed in Appendix 1 of Circular 24/2019/TT-BYT, the list of additives permitted in food.
Other propellants
E290Carbon dioxidevery lowE941Nitrogenvery lowE943aButanevery lowE943bIsobutanevery lowE944Propanevery low
See all propellants →Updated 23 October 2026
Sources (3)
- Open Food Facts additives taxonomy (Yenzo's table cites no EFSA opinion for this code). Open Food Facts additives taxonomy, https://github.com/openfoodfacts/openfoodfacts-server/blob/main/taxonomies/additives.txt (entry en:e942)
- Thông tư 24/2019/TT-BYT (văn bản hợp nhất 09/VBHN-BYT), Phụ lục 2A
- JECFA database (WHO): Nitrous oxide, INS 942, evaluation 2000