Allervibe
E200
Sorbic acid
An organic acid used as a preservative, mainly against moulds and yeasts.
i Additive Details
| Is E200 Sorbic acid safe?
Contact with the concentrated acid can irritate skin, and rare cases of contact urticaria are described in case reports. EFSA's 2015 re-evaluation found no safety concern at reported use levels, while noting that intake in some consumer groups can approach the ADI.
| Uses
Preserves cheese, bread and baked goods, dried fruit, wine, fruit fillings, dressings and margarine. It stays active up to about pH 6, a wider range than benzoates, but is only slightly soluble in water, so the potassium salt is used where the product must stay clear.
| Interactions
Its salts release sorbic acid in food and share the same group ADI. Often combined with benzoates so that mould, yeast and bacterial coverage spans a wider pH range. Because it inhibits yeast, it is kept out of yeast-leavened doughs and added after fermentation.
| Origin
First isolated from the berries of the rowan tree, where it occurs naturally. The additive is made synthetically, usually from ketene and crotonaldehyde.
| Daily Intake
EFSA established a group ADI for sorbic acid and its salts of 11 mg per kg of body weight per day (2015 re-evaluation, expressed as sorbic acid).
Information is sourced from public regulatory bodies (EFSA, FDA, WHO) and is for reference only. Always read the package and consult a healthcare professional for medical advice.
Related additives
- E210 Benzoic acid A weak organic acid used as a preservative against yeasts, moulds and some bacteria in acidic foods.
- E212 Potassium benzoate The potassium salt of benzoic acid, used as a preservative in acidic foods and drinks.
- E213 Calcium benzoate The calcium salt of benzoic acid, a preservative for acidic foods and beverages.
- E201 Sodium sorbate The sodium salt of sorbic acid; no longer authorised as a food additive in the EU.
- E203 Calcium sorbate The calcium salt of sorbic acid, a mould and yeast inhibitor removed from the EU authorised list in 2018.
- E249 Potassium nitrite A curing salt that, like sodium nitrite, fixes the colour of cured meat and inhibits Clostridium botulinum.
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