Ethyl lauroyl arginate HCl is an antimicrobial widely used in food and cosmetics industries. It is a cationic amino acid surfactant that inhibits the proliferation of a wide variety of microorganisms, including both gram positive and gram negative bacteria, molds, and yeasts. ethyl lauroyl arginate HCl has been evaluated for food safety as an antimicrobial in food by the us food and drug administration (fda) in 2005, and as a food preservative by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in 2007, and as a food additive by the Food Standards Australia New Zealand in 2010. Its Ins No. is 243.