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E232PreservativeModerate concern
Sodium Orthophenylphenate
In plain words
The short version
The sodium salt of orthophenylphenol — the spray-applied form for citrus post-harvest treatment.
Why we flag it amber
It's permitted and generally considered safe, but there are a few reasons to be mindful — like sensitivities in some people, debated studies, or intake limits. The Safety section below explains the specifics.
Safety profile
ADI of 0–0.4 mg/kg body weight (combined with E231). Applied to skin only — not intended for consumption. The peel-zest precaution from E231 applies to E232 as well.
The detail
Produced by neutralizing orthophenylphenol (E231) with sodium hydroxide. The water-soluble sodium salt is the spray-form for citrus packing-house applications.
Sprayed onto citrus fruit immediately after harvest to inhibit Penicillium and other post-harvest molds. Residue on the skin must be declared (EU and UK). The wax-applied form (E231) is used for longer storage; the spray form (E232) for shorter applications.
White to off-white crystalline powder. Very soluble in water (much more than the free phenol).
In the EU it is no longer covered by the food-additive rules: Directive 2003/114/EC removed E231 and E232 because they are plant protection products, so post-harvest use on citrus is regulated under pesticide law with maximum residue levels. In the US, EPA sets residue tolerances for o-phenylphenol and its sodium salt from post-harvest use (10 ppm on citrus fruits).
Sources
- WHO JECFA database: Sodium o-phenylphenate (INS 232), 8th meeting evaluation (1964), with JMPR 1999 ADI note for 2-phenylphenol — WHO / Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives, 1999. ADI 0-0.4 mg/kg bw for 2-phenylphenol, applied to the sodium salt
- Directive 2003/114/EC of 22 December 2003 amending Directive 95/2/EC: recital 11 and deletion of E 230-E 232 — European Union (text via legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives), 2003. E 231/E 232 removed from EU food-additive rules and moved to plant protection product rules
- EFSA: Review of the existing maximum residue levels for 2-phenylphenol according to Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 (2017) — European Food Safety Authority (EFSA Journal), 2017. EU regulates 2-phenylphenol as a pesticide active substance with MRLs; authorised on citrus
- 40 CFR 180.129: o-Phenylphenol and its sodium salt; tolerances for residues — U.S. EPA / eCFR, 2008. US regulates post-harvest residues as a fungicide (EPA tolerances), e.g. 10 ppm on citrus
Checked against these sources on .
Educational information only. Not medical, dietary or veterinary advice. Spotted an error? Tell us.