21 CFR § 184.1923 - Urea.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t21/s184.1923"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "21 CFR § 184.1923 - Urea."
title_number: 21
title_name: "Food and Drugs"
section_number: "184.1923"
section_name: "Urea."
chapter_name: "FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES"
subchapter_number: "B"
subchapter_name: "FOOD FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION"
part_number: "184"
part_name: "DIRECT FOOD SUBSTANCES AFFIRMED AS GENERALLY RECOGNIZED AS SAFE"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "21 U.S.C. 321, 342, 348, 371."
regulatory_source: "42 FR 14653, Mar 15, 1977, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "184"
---


# 184.1923 Urea.

(a) Urea (CO(NH<sub>2</sub>)<sub>2</sub>, CAS Reg. No. 57-13-6) is the diamide of carbonic acid and is also known as carbamide. It is a white, odorless solid and is commonly produced from CO<sub>2</sub> by ammonolysis or from cyanamide by hydrolysis.

(b) The ingredient must be of a purity suitable for its intended use.

(c) In accordance with § 184.1(b)(1), the ingredient is used in food with no limitation other than current good manufacturing practice. The affirmation of this ingredient as generally recognized as safe as a direct human food ingredient is based upon the following current good manufacturing practice conditions of use:

(1) The ingredient is used as a formulation aid as defined in § 170.3(o)(14) of this chapter and as a fermentation aid.

(2) The ingredient is used in yeast-raised bakery products; in alcoholic beverages as defined in § 170.3(n)(2) of this chapter; and in gelatin products.

(d) Prior sanctions for this ingredient different from the uses established in this section do not exist or have been waived.

[48 FR 51616, Nov. 10, 1983, as amended at 49 FR 19816, May 10, 1984; 73 FR 8608, Feb. 14, 2008]