Ingredient Index · E202

Is Potassium Sorbate banned in Europe?

Legal in both

No: potassium sorbate (E202) is an authorized preservative in both the EU and the US. It is not banned in Europe, though the EU cut its acceptable daily intake in 2024 after a fresh review.

E-number: E202CAS: 24634-61-5 Also seen as: E202, Potassium salt of sorbic acid

What the EU does

Authorized, not banned. Potassium sorbate is permitted across the EU as preservative E202 under Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, valued because it works over a wider pH range than benzoate, so it turns up in cheese, baked goods, wine, and many neutral or mildly acidic foods. Specifications are in Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012.

It did get a haircut recently, and this is the interesting, honest detail. After re-evaluating the sorbates, the EU lowered the group acceptable daily intake for sorbic acid and its salts. Regulation (EU) 2024/2597 cut it from 25 to 3 mg per kilogram of body weight per day and revised some maximum use levels accordingly. That is the regulator tightening the margin of safety, not declaring the additive unsafe. Potassium sorbate stays fully legal and widely used across Europe.

Citation Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II (E202); Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012; Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/2597 (group ADI lowered to 3 mg/kg bw/day)

What the US does

Equally legal. Potassium sorbate is generally recognized as safe by the FDA (21 CFR 182.3640) and is one of the most widely used preservatives in American food, prized for being effective, near-tasteless, and gentle on flavor. The US has not mirrored the EU's 2024 intake cut; the two systems set their safety margins independently, which is normal.

So this is a clean myth-bust with a small nuance. Both regions allow potassium sorbate. The only recent movement is the EU trimming its acceptable daily intake, a housekeeping decision that leaves the additive on shelves everywhere. If you have seen "potassium sorbate is banned in Europe" online, it is simply false.

Citation 21 CFR 182.3640 (potassium sorbate, GRAS)

Products that commonly contain it

Potassium sorbate is a versatile mold and yeast inhibitor. Common in:

Cheese, yogurt, and dairy-based dips
Baked goods, tortillas, and fillings
Wine, cider, and some soft drinks
Dried fruit, dips, and many "clean label" products where it replaces harsher preservatives

What to look for on a label

How it shows up:

"Potassium sorbate" or "E202" in the ingredient list
Sorbic acid is E200; calcium sorbate is E203, the same family
Often paired with sodium benzoate to cover a wider pH range in one product
Its presence does not signal a low-quality food; it is common even in premium and organic-adjacent lines

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Frequently asked questions

Is potassium sorbate banned in Europe?

No. It is authorized as preservative E202 under Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008. In 2024 the EU lowered its group ADI to 3 mg/kg bw/day (Regulation 2024/2597), but it remains legal and widely used.

Why did the EU cut the potassium sorbate ADI?

A re-evaluation of the sorbates led the EU to reduce the group acceptable daily intake from 25 to 3 mg/kg bw/day as a precaution, tightening the safety margin rather than banning the additive.

Is potassium sorbate legal in the US?

Yes. It is GRAS under 21 CFR 182.3640 and one of the most common food preservatives in the country.

What is potassium sorbate used for?

It inhibits mold and yeast across a wide pH range, so it preserves cheese, baked goods, wine, dried fruit, and many packaged foods.

Related ingredients

Primary sources

Last reviewed July 6, 2026 · How we assign statuses