James M. Brown manufactures a range of metallic stearates used in the plastics, pharmaceutical and food industries. It uses only stearic acid derived from vegetable sources for this production and no organic solvents whatever are used in the production process. Further information in the form of position papers is available at the bottom of this page.

ZINC STEARATE (CAS Registry Number 557-05-1)

"Cleared for use in paper and paperboard for dry food contact under §176.180 (COMPONENTS OF PAPER AND PAPERBOARD IN CONTACT WITH DRY FOOD)"

"ZINC SALTS OF FATTY ACIDS" are permitted for use as activators in §177.2600 (RUBBER ARTICLES INTENDED FOR REPEATED USE) . The total quantity of permitted activators must not exceed 5% by weight of the rubber product.

"Cleared as an antioxidant and/or stabilizer in polymers used in the manufacture of articles or components of articles intended for use in producing, manufacturing, packing, processing, preparing, treating, packaging, transporting, or holding food under §178.2010 (ANTIOXIDANTS AND/OR STABILIZERS FOR POLYMERS). The quantity used shall not exceed that reasonably required to accomplish the intended technical effect."

Listed in §175.300 covering "resinous and polymeric coatings" : see the magnesium stearate entry above for further information.