Benzyl Per Oxide

Application

It is used as a bleaching agent for certain foods, an oxidizing agent, a polymerizing initiator in the manufacture of plastics, a curing agent for silicone rubber, a constituent of ointments for skin disorders, and an ingredient in various industrial processes. Benzoyl peroxide has a long history of use in the food industry as a bleaching agent added for flour, whey, and milk for cheese making. A premix of 32% benzoyl peroxide and 68% cornstarch is used in bleaching flour. The maximum amount used as a flour bleaching agent is 50 mg/kg. Benzoyl peroxide has been evaluated in the 7th JECFA meeting to an unconditional acceptance zone at 0 – 40 mg/kg and conditional acceptance level of 40 – 75 mg/kg for treatment of flour to be consumed by man (WHO, 1964). It has been reported that benzoyl peroxide is typically used in the cheese manufacture.