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E586AntioxidantLow concern
4-Hexylresorcinol
In plain words
The short version
A phenolic antioxidant used to prevent shrimp blackspot — a clean-label alternative to sulfites.
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 (1995) did not set a numerical ADI, but concluded that treating crustaceans at up to 50 mg/L, giving residues of about 1 mg/kg in the edible portion, is not of toxicological concern. Considered safe at use levels. Far less allergenic than the sulfite-based blackspot inhibitors it replaces.
The detail
Manufactured by alkylation of resorcinol with 1-hexene. Originally introduced as an oral anthelmintic and a throat-lozenge antiseptic; food use developed in the 1990s as a sulfite-free shrimp-preservation chemistry.
Dipped onto shrimp, lobster, and crab to prevent the dark melanosis spots (blackspot) caused by polyphenol oxidase activity. In the EU the limit is 2 mg/kg as a residue in crustacean meat. A clean-label alternative to sodium metabisulfite for sulfite-sensitive consumers. Also used to prevent enzymatic browning in lychee and cut apples.
White to off-white crystalline solid. Sparingly soluble in water; soluble in ethanol and warm oils.
In the EU it is permitted only in fresh, frozen and deep-frozen crustaceans, at up to 2 mg/kg as a residue in the meat.
Sources
- JECFA database: 4-Hexylresorcinol, 44th meeting (1995) — WHO / FAO Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives, 1995. No numerical ADI; crustacean treatment not of toxicological concern
- Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, consolidated text of 18.08.2026: E 586 in category 09.1.2 — EUR-Lex, 2026. EU use only in crustaceans, 2 mg/kg as residue in the meat
- Directive 2006/52/EC of 5 July 2006 amending Directive 95/2/EC (EU authorisation of 4-hexylresorcinol) — European Parliament and Council (EUR-Lex), 2006. EU authorisation for crustaceans at 2 mg/kg residue
Checked against these sources on .
Educational information only. Not medical, dietary or veterinary advice. Spotted an error? Tell us.