21 CFR § 189.120 - Cobaltous salts and its derivatives.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t21/s189.120"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "21 CFR § 189.120 - Cobaltous salts and its derivatives."
title_number: 21
title_name: "Food and Drugs"
section_number: "189.120"
section_name: "Cobaltous salts and its derivatives."
chapter_name: "FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES"
subchapter_number: "B"
subchapter_name: "FOOD FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION"
part_number: "189"
part_name: "SUBSTANCES PROHIBITED FROM USE IN HUMAN FOOD"
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, 381."
regulatory_source: "42 FR 14659, Mar. 15, 1977, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "189"
---


# 189.120 Cobaltous salts and its derivatives.

(a) Cobaltous salts are the chemicals, CoC<sub>4</sub>H<sub>6</sub>O<sub>4</sub>, CoCl<sub>2</sub>, and CoSO<sub>4</sub>.They have been used in fermented malt beverages as a foam stabilizer and to prevent “gushing.”

(b) Food containing any added cobaltous salts is deemed to be adulterated in violation of the act based upon an order published in the *Federal Register* of August 12, 1966 (31 FR 8788).