Home » Preservatives » Sorbic Acid (E200)

What is Sorbic Acid (E200)?

Last updated on: 12/16/2025

Sources: WHO, US-FDA, EFSA, FSSAI.

9

/10

Low Concern

Generally safe at approved use levels; no specific sensitive groups noted.

CTL SAFETY SCORE

A higher score reflects higher confidence in safety; it is based on regulatory approvals, intake limits, and individual sensitivities data.

Sorbic acid is a food preservative used to inhibit the growth of moulds, yeasts, and some bacteria. It is particularly effective in acidic and low-moisture foods, helping to extend shelf life while maintaining product quality over long storage period.

Safety Summary

  • Sorbic acid has been evaluated and approved by major food safety authorities, including FDA, EFSA, WHO/JECFA, and FSSAI.
  • It is a well-established antimicrobial preservative with a long history of safe use in foods.

  • Normally the dietary exposure is well below the ADI for the general population.

  • Sorbic acid is rapidly metabolized to carbon dioxide and water, making it a safe food ingredient.

Who should be cautious?

None identified by EFSA under dietary exposure

Quick Facts

E-Number :

E200

INS Number :

INS-200

Category :

Preservative

Sub-category :

Preservative

Origin :

Naturally ocurring (commercially produced)

Used In :

Food

Alternative Names :

200, 2,4-Hexadienoic acid, 2-Propenylacrylic acid

Similar Ingredients :

Potassium sorbate (E202), Calcium sorbate (E203)

Common Products

You may find it in the following food products for its antimicrobial properties:

  • Flavoured fluid milk drinks,
  • Processed cheese,
  • Jams, jellies,
  • Marmalades,
  • Pre-cooked pastas and noodles etc.

Regulatory Approval.

1. Food and drug administration (fDA – USA)

Status
Usage Limit

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

  • Group Average Daily intake(ADI): 11 mg/kg body weight per day, expresed as sorbic acid.

3. Food safety and standardization authority India (FSSAI)

Status
Usage Limit

Approved

  • Maximum permitted levels vary by food category.

Health concerns

  • EFSA evaluations indicate that sorbic acid is not genotoxic and not carcinogenic; also, it is not associated with reproductive or developmental toxicity at permitted use levels.
  • No evidence of systemic toxicity has been identified from dietary intake within regulatory limits.
  • Rare intolerance reactions in highly sensitive individuals are sometimes seen but are safe for general populations at permitted levels.

 

Conclusions

CTL keeps the Sorbic acid (E200) in Low concern category as it is a widely approved, well-tolerated antimicrobial preservative used to protect foods from spoilage. With a group ADI of 0–11 mg/kg bw, rapid metabolism, and no evidence of genotoxicity or carcinogenicity, it is considered low concern when used within regulatory limits.

Q: Is sorbic acid safe to consume?
A: Yes. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) concluded that sorbic acid and its salts do not pose a safety concern when used as food additives at approved levels. EFSA established an Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) of 11 mg per kg body weight per day, and dietary exposure estimates for all population groups were found to be below this ADI, including for infants, toddlers, children, and adults.

Q: Does sorbic acid cause cancer or genetic damage?
A: EFSA found no evidence of genotoxicity or carcinogenicity for sorbic acid and its salts. Based on the available toxicological data, EFSA concluded that sorbic acid does not damage genetic material and does not have carcinogenic potential when used as a food additive under authorized conditions.

Q: Can children or infants exceed safe intake levels of sorbic acid?
A: EFSA’s exposure assessment showed that both average and high-level dietary exposure estimates remained below the Acceptable Daily Intake for all age groups, including infants, toddlers, and children. EFSA therefore concluded that there is no safety concern for these population groups at the reported uses and use levels of sorbic acid in foods.

References

Food And Drugs Administration (US FDA)

European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)

Food Safety And Standardization India (FSSAI)

WHO, Codex And Others