Tin (inorganic) in food: ingestion safety

What is tin (inorganic)?

Also known as: TIN, tin atom, RefChem:1100127, Sn.

CAS number

7440-31-5

Molecular formula

Sn

Molecular weight

118.71 g/mol

SMILES

[Sn]

PubChem CID

5352426

Regulatory consensus

1 regulatory bodyhas classified Tin (inorganic).

Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.

Where you encounter tin (inorganic)

• Consumer Products — tin cans, solder, organotin antifouling paints
• Food Chain — canned food migration

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Tin (inorganic):

• Aluminum or stainless steel food containers
  Trade-offs: Eliminates tin migration from can linings. Glass is even better (zero migration). Higher cost and weight. Aluminum requires lacquer lining too (but no tin).
  Relative cost: 1.5-3× (longer lifespan)
• BPA-NI can linings (acrylic, polyester, oleoresin)
  Trade-offs: Modern tin can linings reduce tin/BPA migration simultaneously. 'BPA-NI' (non-intent) formulations standard since 2018. Some use polyester or oleoresin.
  Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions