🧪eNumbers.orgSearch Additives

Potassium Sorbate (E202) — What You Need to Know

Generally Safe(7/10)Synthetic

The score is an eNumbers.org editorial summary, not an official agency rating or medical advice. Start with the regulatory status and primary sources below.

What Is Potassium Sorbate?

Potassium sorbate is the potassium salt of sorbic acid and one of the most widely used food preservatives globally. It effectively inhibits the growth of molds, yeasts, and some bacteria. It is odorless and tasteless at normal use levels, making it ideal for a wide range of foods.

What Is It Used For?

Extends the shelf life of cheese, wine, yogurt, dried meats, soft drinks, canned goods, and baked products. Also used in personal care products like shampoos and lotions.

Function: Antimicrobial preservative
5 mg
Dataset exposure estimate
1750 mg
ADI-derived reference (70 kg)
0.3%
of ADI (typical diet)

Exposure figures are population-level references, not personal limits. Actual intake varies by diet, product and jurisdiction.

Regulatory & Editorial Context

📊
Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI)
25 mg/kg bw/day
🏛️
Regulatory Status
🇪🇺 EU: Authorized
🇺🇸 US: Approved
🇯🇵 JP: Approved
🇦🇺 AU: Approved
🇨🇦 CA: Approved
⚠️ Key Concerns

Generally recognized as safe by major regulatory bodies. Some in vitro studies have shown mild mutagenic effects when combined with ascorbic acid (vitamin C), but this has not been demonstrated in animal or human studies at normal dietary levels. A small number of individuals may experience skin reactions.

Editorial context score

eNumbers.org currently assigns Potassium Sorbate an editorial context label of Generally Safe with a score of 7/10. This is 1.3 points above the database average for preservatives (5.7/10). Dataset reference year: 2015. The dataset's population estimate equals about 0.3% of the listed ADI.

This score is not issued by EFSA, FDA, WHO or another regulator.

Commonly Found In

CheeseWineYogurtFruit juicesBaked goodsDried fruit
Example brands:
KraftWelch's

Always check the label for E202 or 'Potassium Sorbate'

▶Chemical Information
Formula: C6H7KO2
Molecular Weight: 150.22 g/mol
CAS Number: 24634-61-5
INS Number: 202
Also known as: E202, INS 202, Potassium (2E,4E)-hexa-2,4-dienoate

Frequently Asked Questions about Potassium Sorbate

Current dataset status: FDA — GRAS; EFSA/EU — Authorized. Reported concerns: Generally recognized as safe by major regulatory bodies. Some in vitro studies have shown mild mutagenic effects when combined with ascorbic acid (vitamin C), but this has not been demonstrated in animal or human studies at normal dietary levels. A small number of individuals may experience skin reactions. Regulatory status and individual risk are not the same; check the primary sources and permitted conditions of use.

Quick Facts

E-Number
E202
INS Number
202
Category
Preservatives
Origin
Synthetic
FDA Status
GRAS
EFSA Status
Authorized
ADI
25 mg/kg bw/day
Dataset Review
2015
Ingredient-level Dietary Notes
Vegan: ✅ YesHalal: ✅ YesKosher: ✅ YesGluten-Free: ✅ Yes

Carriers, processing aids and product certification can change suitability. Verify the final label and certifier.

Quick Links

Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional for health-related decisions.

Related Additives

Other preservatives in the same family

Sorbic Acid (E200)Sodium Benzoate (E211)