What E202 actually is
Potassium sorbate is the preservative of choice where mould and yeast are the problem rather than bacteria. It is what keeps cheese from growing fur, wine from restarting fermentation in the bottle, and dips from spoiling once opened. It is largely tasteless at the levels used.
What it is made from
Manufactured by neutralising sorbic acid with potassium hydroxide. Sorbic acid was originally isolated from rowan berries, but commercial production is entirely synthetic.
Vegan, vegetarian, and halal status
Fully synthetic with no animal-derived input, so it suits vegan, vegetarian, halal, and kosher diets.
Is E202 safe?
Potassium sorbate has one of the better safety records among preservatives. The body metabolises sorbate the same way it handles other fatty acids, breaking it down to carbon dioxide and water. EFSA re-evaluated it in 2015 and set an acceptable daily intake of 3 mg per kg of body weight per day. Some laboratory work has looked at whether sorbate combined with nitrite or with ascorbic acid can produce genotoxic compounds, which is why EFSA lowered the intake figure from its previous level, but it remains permitted throughout.
- No commonly reported effects at dietary levels
- Occasional skin irritation on direct contact, relevant to cosmetics rather than food
- EFSA reduced the acceptable daily intake in 2015 following a review of genotoxicity data
Where regulators stand
- EFSA (EU)
- Re-evaluated in 2015. Acceptable daily intake of 3 mg per kg of body weight per day.
- FDA (US)
- Generally recognized as safe.
Foods it turns up in
- Cheese and dairy products
- Wine and cider
- Dips, dressings, and sauces
- Baked goods and tortillas
- Dried fruit and fruit fillings
Names it hides behind
- E202
- Potassium sorbate
- Preservative (E202)
- E200 sorbic acid is the related free acid
Common questions
- Is potassium sorbate bad for you?
- It is among the better-regarded preservatives. The body breaks sorbate down the way it handles fatty acids. EFSA permits it with a set intake limit.
- Is potassium sorbate natural?
- Sorbic acid occurs naturally in rowan berries, but the commercial additive is synthesised rather than extracted.
- Is potassium sorbate vegan and halal?
- Yes. It is manufactured chemically with no animal-derived input at any stage.
- Why is it in wine?
- It stops residual yeast restarting fermentation in the bottle, which would otherwise produce fizz and pressure in a wine meant to be still.
- What is the difference between E200 and E202?
- E200 is sorbic acid, the free acid. E202 is its potassium salt, which dissolves much better in water and is therefore easier to use.
Checking a real pack
This page answers the code. The pack in your hand is what decides, because the same code can come from different sources depending on the manufacturer. LabelWise, formerly SafeChoice, scans the label and explains what is in front of you.
LabelWise content is educational and describes how additives are made, regulated, and labelled. It is not medical, dietary, or religious advice. For certification questions, the mark on the pack and the certifying body are the authority.