Helium

Helium is the lightest noble gas, comprising a small fraction of the Earth's atmosphere and produced commercially from natural gas processing. In food applications it functions as an inert packaging gas used in modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) systems. While less commonly used for food packaging than nitrogen (E941) or carbon dioxide (E941/preservative context), helium finds application in specialist packaging scenarios, leak detection in food packaging lines, and in some aerosol food dispensing applications where its light, inert properties are advantageous.

No JECFA numerical ADI is applicable to helium. As a chemically inert noble gas, helium is completely non-reactive with food components, is not metabolised, and is exhaled directly from the lungs without any physiological effect. It presents no toxicological concern as a food additive at any relevant concentration.

Helium is approved in the EU as E939 for use as a packaging and processing gas. Its practical use in food packaging is limited compared with other approved gases because of its relatively high cost and the fact that its low molecular weight makes it more likely to diffuse through packaging materials over time. It may be used in food packaging as part of a gas mixture alongside more commonly used gases. Its presence in packaged food labelling (where declared) signifies only that modified atmosphere packaging technology has been employed — it has no impact on the safety, taste, or nutritional profile of the product inside.