Lauric arginate
Lauric arginate suppliers and sourcing guide
Lauric arginate is a cationic surfactant made by esterifying the amino acid L-arginine with ethanol and then reacting it with lauric acid (as lauroyl chloride). It is sold as the hydrochloride, as a white powder or as solutions in glycols or water. Food processors use it as an antimicrobial on meat and poultry and in some foods and beverages, and it is also used in personal care products.
- Also known as
- Ethyl lauroyl arginate · LAE · Lauramide arginine ethyl ester · E243 · CAS 60372-77-2
- Facts checked
- November 2026
Forms and grades of lauric arginate
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Powder
Lauric arginate hydrochloride as a white powder, for dry blends or making solutions.
Solutions in propylene glycol or glycerin
Liquid concentrates for spray or dip application on meat and poultry.
Water-based solutions
Aqueous formulations for processors that avoid glycol carriers.
Cosmetic grades
Grades sold for personal care formulas.
What to check on the COA
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
- Assay (HPLC)
- Ethyl lauroyl arginate content, reported as the hydrochloride.
- Related substances
- Lauroyl arginine, lauric acid and ethyl arginate, the main breakdown products, by HPLC.
- Water
- Water content for powders and concentration for solutions.
- pH
- pH of a stated solution.
- Heavy metals
- Lead, arsenic and other metals by ICP-MS or ICP-OES against the supplier's specification or the Food Chemicals Codex (FCC) limits.
- Microbiology
- Total plate count, yeast and mold for solutions.
Storage, lots and expiry
Storage and shelf life
Store lauric arginate sealed in a cool, dry place away from heat and light. It hydrolyzes slowly, faster in alkaline or warm conditions, so keep solutions closed and within the supplier's temperature range. Shelf life is set by the supplier's specification, with retest of assay for older lots.
Lots and expiry dates
Record assay or concentration for each lot, since solutions from different suppliers carry different amounts of active. Note the carrier (propylene glycol, glycerin or water) because it must appear on labels where it is not a processing aid.
Regulatory status
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
GRN 164, for lauramide arginine ethyl ester notified by Laboratorios Miret (LAMIRSA) as an antimicrobial added directly to food including meat and poultry, closed on Sep 1, 2005 with FDA having no questions.
Source: hfpappexternal.fda.gov (opens in a new tab)Health Canada's List of Permitted Preservatives includes ethyl lauroyl arginate, for example in cheddar and other named cheeses.
Source: canada.ca (opens in a new tab)
This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.
Lauric arginate suppliers
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
We are checking lauric arginate suppliers now
Every listing is checked against the supplier’s own website before it goes live, so this list fills in over the coming weeks. The specs and COA checklist above are ready today.
Sell lauric arginate? Request a listingFrequently asked questions
What forms of lauric arginate can brands buy?
Common forms include powder, solutions in propylene glycol or glycerin, water-based solutions and cosmetic grades. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
What should the COA for lauric arginate include?
Expect assay (HPLC), related substances, water, pH, heavy metals and microbiology, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
How should lauric arginate be stored?
Store lauric arginate sealed in a cool, dry place away from heat and light. It hydrolyzes slowly, faster in alkaline or warm conditions, so keep solutions closed and within the supplier's temperature range. Shelf life is set by the supplier's specification, with retest of assay for older lots.
What is the regulatory status of lauric arginate?
GRN 164, for lauramide arginine ethyl ester notified by Laboratorios Miret (LAMIRSA) as an antimicrobial added directly to food including meat and poultry, closed on Sep 1, 2005 with FDA having no questions. Health Canada's List of Permitted Preservatives includes ethyl lauroyl arginate, for example in cheddar and other named cheeses.
More acids, preservatives and leavening
- Citric acid2-hydroxy-1,2,3-propanetricarboxylic acid · E330
- Malic acidDL-malic acid · L-malic acid
- Lactic acid2-hydroxypropanoic acid · L(+)-lactic acid
- Tartaric acidL-(+)-tartaric acid · 2,3-dihydroxybutanedioic acid
- Fumaric acidtrans-butenedioic acid · E297
- Acetic acidethanoic acid · glacial acetic acid
- Phosphoric acidorthophosphoric acid · E338
- Glucono-delta-lactoneGDL · glucono delta-lactone
- Adipic acidhexanedioic acid · 1,4-butanedicarboxylic acid
- Sodium citratetrisodium citrate · trisodium citrate dihydrate
- Sodium lactatesodium 2-hydroxypropanoate · E325
- Sodium acetatesodium ethanoate · E262
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