Food additives permitted in the EU: preservatives
Preservatives are food additives used to maintain the quality of the food, slowing decomposition caused by bacteria, yeast, mould or air, and to help control contaminations that may cause foodborne illness.
Below is a review of some of preservatives present in the list of food additives approved in the European Community on the basis of the European Commission regulation No 1129/2011 published on 11 November 2011. Such list is an amendment of Annex II to Regulation (EC) No. 1333/2008 of the European Parliament, that was then modified in 2013. It is possible to consult the list in its entirety, in the different European languages and both in PDF and HTML format, by following the link in the References.
| Preservatives: sorbic acid and its salts | |
| E200 | Sorbic acid |
| E202 | Potassium sorbate |
| E203 | Calcium sorbate |
| Preservatives: benzoic acid and its salts | |
| E210 | Benzoic acid |
| E211 | Sodium benzoate |
| E212 | Potassium benzoate |
| E213 | Calcium benzoate |
| E214 | Ethyl p-hydroxyhenzoate |
| E215 | Sodium ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate |
| E218 | Methyl p-hydroxybenzoate |
| E219 | Sodium methyl p-hydroxybenzoate |
| Preservatives: sulphur dioxide and its salts | |
| E220 | Sulphur dioxide |
| E221 | Sodium sulphite |
| E222 | Sodium hydrogen sulphite |
| E223 | Sodium metabisulphite |
| E224 | Potassium metabisulphite |
| E226 | Calcium sulphite |
| E227 | Calcium hydrogen sulphite |
| E228 | Potassium hydrogen sulphite |
| Other preservatives | |
| E234 | Nisin |
| E235 | Natamycin or NATA, for surface treatment of cheeses and dried cured sausages |
| E239 | Hexamethylene tetramine or hexamine |
| E242 | Dimethyl dicarbonate |
| Preservatives: pickling salts | |
| E249 | Potassium nitrite |
| E250 | Sodium nitrite |
| E251 | Sodium nitrate |
| E252 | Potassium nitrate or saltpetre |
| Acids and their salts | |
| E280 | Propionic acid |
| E281 | Sodium propionate |
| E282 | Calcium propionate |
| E283 | Potassium propionate |
| E284 | Boric acid |
| E285 | Sodium tetraborate or borax |
References
- Bender D.A. “Benders’ Dictionary of Nutrition and Food Technology” 8th ed. Woodhead Publishing. Oxford, 2006
- Commission Regulation (EU) No 1129/2011 of 11 November 2011 amending Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council by establishing a Union list of food additives. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2011/1129/2013-11-21