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E282PreservativeLow concern
Calcium Propionate
In plain words
The short version
A mold inhibitor commonly used in bread, baked goods, and dairy products.
Why it's green
It's widely considered safe at the amounts used in food, so we mark it green. The Safety section below has the details.
Safety profile
JECFA allocated a group ADI "not limited" for propionic acid and its calcium, potassium and sodium salts (1973, maintained in 1997) — considered safe at normal use levels. Naturally occurring in fermented foods and produced in the human gut. Some anecdotal reports link very high intake to migraines or irritability, but evidence is limited.
The detail
Propionic acid occurs naturally in Swiss-style cheeses, produced by Propionibacterium during fermentation. The calcium salt is manufactured by neutralizing propionic acid with calcium hydroxide.
Standard mold inhibitor in industrial bread at 0.1% to 0.3%. Does not interfere with yeast activity, unlike sorbates. Also used in processed cheese and pet food.
White granular powder, soluble in water. Most effective at pH below 5.5. Active against molds and rope-forming bacteria but does not inhibit yeast.
Permitted in most jurisdictions for bakery products. Specific EU max levels apply by product category.
Sources
- JECFA — Calcium propionate (INS 282), group ADI 'not limited' (1973, maintained at the 49th meeting, 1997) — WHO / Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives, 1997. JECFA group ADI 'not limited'
- 21 CFR 184.1221 — Calcium propionate (GRAS affirmed) — US eCFR (Office of the Federal Register), 2026. US use in baked goods and cheese at GMP levels
- Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 on food additives, Annex II — consolidated text of 18.08.2026 — Publications Office of the European Union, 2026. EU maximum levels by product category
- Varo et al. — Calcium propionate in tortillas – a likely cause of a large outbreak of acute gastrointestinal illness, Finland, 2023 (Eurosurveillance 2026;31(11)) — Eurosurveillance (European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control), 2026. Gastrointestinal effects at levels far above the EU limit
Checked against these sources on .
Educational information only. Not medical, dietary or veterinary advice. Spotted an error? Tell us.