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West Ujimqin Banner, Xilingol League, Inner Mongolia, China
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Product Name: Inulin
Chemical Family: Polysaccharide
Chemical Formula: C6nH10n+2O5n+1
CAS Number: 9005-80-5
Recommended Use: Food additive, dietary fiber, prebiotic ingredient for supplements and functional foods
Manufacturer Contact: Customer service lines from main dietary fiber suppliers worldwide handle product and safety inquiries, offering access to detailed technical and safety documentation for food industry professionals, researchers, and distribution channels.
Synonyms: Fructan, Fructooligosaccharide
GHS Classification: Inulin is not classified as hazardous under GHS guidelines.
Primary Risks: Dust generation can irritate the lungs or throat if inhaled in confined mixing or processing spaces; eye irritation sometimes occurs with accidental contact; skin or ingestion exposures in the workplace show low likelihood of adverse effects, reflecting its widely recognized status as a dietary ingredient.
Signal Word: None assigned.
Hazard Statement: Not considered hazardous for handling or processing in normal use.
Pictograms: None required based on available data.
Chemical Name: Inulin
Content: More than 94% pure (varies based on manufacturer and source plant such as chicory or Jerusalem artichoke)
Impurities: Trace monosaccharides, water, potential protein residues below dietary concern levels
Ingredient Origin: Extracted and purified from plant roots, typically chicory
No hazardous ingredients present above reportable thresholds for food applications
Inhalation: Move affected worker to fresh air; rest and monitor for breathing difficulty if large amounts of powder inhaled; rinse mouth with water to clear particles, consult occupational health if symptoms persist.
Skin Contact: Immediately wash exposed area with soap and water, remove contaminated clothing; symptoms extremely rare and mostly limited to mechanical irritation.
Eye Contact: Rinse gently with running water for several minutes; avoid rubbing eye; seek medical advice if irritation continues.
Ingestion: Food-grade inulin carries negligible risk; intake should not cause harm unless worker is highly sensitive to dietary fibers, in which case mild bloating or discomfort could appear; rinse mouth and drink water if large amounts consumed unintentionally.
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Use foam, dry chemical powder, CO2, or water spray to control dust fires.
Specific Hazards: Combustible solid, fine airborne powders sometimes combust in the presence of ignition sources; dust explosions possible in unventilated processing areas.
Special Protective Equipment: Wear full protective gear, including respiratory protection for firefighters dealing with dust clouds or decomposition fumes.
Decomposition Products: Carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide released if significant combustion or smoldering occurs.
Personal Precautions: Minimize dust generation and inhalation by wearing suitable dust masks and gloves if cleaning up spills.
Environmental Precautions: Keep spilled material away from drains and waterways to minimize localized nutrient loading for sensitive ecosystems.
Methods for Clean Up: Sweep up powder carefully to prevent dust clouds; use industrial vacuum cleaners with HEPA filters for large spills; dispose captured material according to local solid organic waste guidelines.
Handling: Workers should handle powdered material indoors under local exhaust ventilation; avoid splashing, spills or vigorous pouring that could form fine dust clouds.
Hygiene Measures: Wash hands before breaks, after work, and after handling.
Storage: Store sealed in cool, dry, well-ventilated area; prevent exposure to moisture that can cake powder or promote microbial growth.
Incompatibilities: Store away from strong oxidizing agents and reactive chemicals.
Packaging: Use moisture-resistant, food-safe containers or sacks.
Engineering Controls: Install local exhaust ventilation near bagging, mixing, or dumping points to trap any released dust; dust collection systems reduce airborne concentrations and inhalation risk.
Personal Protection: Workers should use disposable dust masks, protective gloves, and safety glasses during transfer or cleanup; long sleeves protect from mild skin irritation.
Occupational Exposure Limits: Regulatory authorities have not assigned occupational exposure limits for inulin; it is used in food and supplements, though dust concentrations on site should follow general nuisance dust guidelines (typically 10 mg/m³ total, 5 mg/m³ respirable fraction as set for inert dusts).
Appearance: White to off-white, free-flowing or slightly clumpy fine powder
Odor: Odorless or faintly sweet
Packing Density: Variable but often 0.4–0.7 g/cm³
Solubility: Soluble in hot water, moderate solubility in cold
pH: Around 5–7 (1% solution in water)
Melting Point: Decomposes above 150°C
Boiling Point: Not applicable (decomposes before boiling)
Vapor Pressure: Not applicable
Flashpoint: Data not applicable for biopolymer
Explosion Properties: Dust may form explosive mixtures with air in high concentrations and confined spaces
Chemical Stability: Stable during storage and handling when dry and protected from excessive heat.
Reactivity: Non-reactive with most materials; exposure to strong oxidizing acids or bases at elevated temperatures can break down the polysaccharide.
Conditions to Avoid: High humidity, wet storage, excessive heat, sources of ignition where dust forms.
Hazardous Products of Decomposition: Carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide during combustion or high-temperature breakdown.
Routes of Exposure: Inhalation, skin and eye contact, oral ingestion where workplace protocols are not followed.
Acute Health Effects: Ingestion or skin/eye contact rarely causes issues in healthy adults; dust inhalation might irritate airways but is not associated with chronic damage.
Sensitization: Clinical records do not show allergy risk for most workers; rare food allergies documented but not via occupational exposure.
Toxicity Reference: Oral LD50 (rat): >15,000 mg/kg—very low toxicity
Carcinogenicity: Not classified by IARC, NTP, or OSHA as carcinogen.
Mutagenicity: No evidence of mutagenic activity in standard tests applied to dietary fibers.
Repeated Exposure: High intake can trigger mild GI discomfort such as bloating due to fermentation in the colon, not from chemical toxicity.
Ecotoxicity: No acute or chronic toxicity observed in aquatic organisms or terrestrial wildlife; rapidly degrades as a carbohydrate in natural systems.
Persistence and Degradability: Readily biodegradable; decomposes into sugars and natural fermentation products.
Bioaccumulation Potential: Negligible; not bioaccumulative due to water solubility and microbial degradation.
Mobility in Soil: Mobile and rapidly broken down in moist environments by bacteria and fungi.
Other Environmental Hazards: High local concentrations may trigger nutrient imbalances; unlikely with normal spill or waste amounts.
Waste Disposal Methods: Collect spilled or surplus powder in containers for food-grade organic waste; composting or standard landfill permitted for uncontaminated material.
Contaminated Packaging: Rinse and recycle or landfill following local regulations for food additive packaging.
Special Precautions: Avoid unrestricted release to waterways; keep waste streams managed to prevent excessive organic loading in sewage treatment plants.
UN Number: Not regulated (not hazardous for transport)
Shipping Name: Inulin, plant-derived food additive
Transport Hazard Class: Not assigned
Packing Group: Not assigned
Environmental Hazards: None assigned under main international transport codes.
Special Shipping Instructions: Protect from excessive moisture and rough handling during transit to prevent packaging breakage or product spoilage.
International Regulations: Listed as food ingredient by JECFA, EFSA, and US FDA—approval for food and supplement standards in North America, Europe, and much of Asia-Pacific.
GHS/CLP: Not considered a hazardous chemical for classification in most workplaces.
US Regulations: GRAS status (Generally Recognized as Safe) for supplemental and food use.
EU Regulations: Included in Novel Foods Catalogue, recognized for dietary fiber claims and nutraceutical labeling.
Worker Safety: Follows dust safety, hygiene, PPE, and ventilation best practices outlined in general worker health and chemical safety regulations, even for non-hazardous powders.
West Ujimqin Banner, Xilingol League, Inner Mongolia, China
