What is Calcium Propionate (E282)?
Last updated on: 12/17/2025
Sources: WHO, US-FDA, EFSA, FSSAI.
9
/10
Low Concern
Generally safe when used within regulatory limits. No safety concern were noted by major regulatory bodies at authorised use levels.
CTL SAFETY SCORE
A higher score reflects higher confidence in safety; it is based on regulatory approvals, intake limits, and individual sensitivities data.
Calcium propionate is the calcium salt of propionic acid. It is used as a food preservative primarily to inhibit the growth of moulds and certain bacteria, especially in bakery and cereal-based products, helping extend the shelf life of foods.
Safety Summary
• Calcium propionate is a water-soluble and heat-stable preservative, meaning it can withstand high temperatures; hence, it’s used primarily in bakery products. It is effective against mould growth.
• EFSA did not identify any sensitive groups when used within the prescribed limits.
• It has a long history of use globally as a bakery preservative.
• It is approved by all major regulatory bodies around the globe under good manufacturing practice (GMP).
Who should be cautious?
None identified by EFSA under dietary exposure
Quick Facts
|
E-Number : |
E282 |
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INS Number : |
INS-282 |
|
Category : |
Preservative |
|
Sub-category : |
Antimicrobial, Mould inhibitor |
|
Origin : |
Synthetic (Chemically derived) |
|
Used In : |
Food |
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Alternative Names : |
282, Calcium propanoate |
|
Similar Ingredients : |
Propionic acid (E280), Sodium propionate (E281), Potassium propionate (E283) |
Common Products
You may find this in the following food products due to its mold-inhibiting properties:
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Bread and bread rolls
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Cakes, pastries, buns
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Tortillas and flatbreads
- Flavoured fluid milk drinks,
- Pre-cooked pastas and noodles.
Regulatory Approval.
1. Food and drug administration (fDA – USA)
Status |
Usage Limit |
|---|---|
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Approved (GRAS under Good Manufacturing Practice) |
Used in food consistent with Good Manufacturing Practice; no specific numerical limit beyond GMP. |
2. European Food Safety authority (eFSA)
Status |
Usage Limit |
|---|---|
|
Approved |
Not specified (ADI not required). Use is controlled through authorized food categories and maximum permitted levels. |
3. Food safety and standardization authority India (FSSAI)
Status |
Usage Limit |
|---|---|
|
Approved |
Maximum permitted levels vary by food category. Eg. Whey Protien cheese and Dairy products- 3,000 mg/kg |
Health concerns
- EFSA reviewed data for calcium propionate and did not identify any safety concerns at authorized use levels. Exposure from authorized uses is adequately covered by the safety assessment.
- For calcium propionate, no evidence of genotoxicity or carcinogenicity was identified by EFSA and no population group (including children) was identified as exceeding safe exposure levels.
- It is well tolerated by the general population when used within regulatory limits.
- Calcium propionate is metabolized via normal physiological pathways and does not accumulate in the human body, which means it has low reactivity.
Conclusions
Calcium propionate (E282) is a mold-inhibiting preservative with a long history of safe use, primarily used in baked goods. It is accepted by the FDA, EFSA, WHO/JECFA, and FSSAI. It shows no specific sensitivity in any population group when used according to GMP. Overall, it is classified as low concern.