Comparing E101 - Riboflavin vs E218 - Methyl p-hydroxybenzoate

Overview

E101 - Riboflavin

Riboflavin (E101) is a yellow food color that also happens to be vitamin B2. It adds a warm yellow tint to foods and drinks, and it is widely used for both coloring and vitamin fortification. It occurs naturally in many foods and has a long record of safe use in the U.S. and EU.

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E218 - Methyl p-hydroxybenzoate

Methyl p-hydroxybenzoate (E218), also called methylparaben, is a preservative used to slow the growth of molds and yeasts in some foods and drinks. It appears on labels under names like methylparaben, methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate, or E218, and its use and limits vary by country. It is also used outside of food, such as in cosmetics and medicines in many markets.

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Synonyms
E101
Riboflavin
Vitamin B2
Flavaxin
Vitamin B 2
Vitamin G
Riboflavine
Lactoflavine
Lactoflavin
E218
Methyl p-hydroxybenzoate
Methylparaben
methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate
Functions
colour
preservative
Origins
Microbiological
Synthetic
Plant
Synthetic
Products

Found in 555 products

Found in 69 products

Search rank & volume
#2391.3K / mo🇺🇸U.S.
#1944.6K / mo🇺🇸U.S.
Awareness score

×23.83
over-aware

×9.07
over-aware

Search volume over time

Interest over time for 9 keywords in U.S. during the last 10 years.

Interest over time for 4 keywords in U.S. during the last 10 years.

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Popular questions

  1. What does riboflavin do?

    In the body, riboflavin (vitamin B2) helps enzymes produce energy (as FMN and FAD) and supports normal skin and vision. In foods, E101 is used as a yellow color and to fortify products with B2.

  2. What does vitamin b2 do?

    Vitamin B2 serves as the coenzymes FMN and FAD in energy metabolism and redox reactions. As E101 in foods, it also functions as a yellow colorant and nutrient fortifier.

  3. What is vitamin b2 good for?

    It supports energy release from food and helps maintain healthy skin, mouth, and vision. In foods, E101 is used to add yellow color and to enrich products with vitamin B2.

  4. What is riboflavin good for?

    Riboflavin is good for energy production and cellular respiration, helping keep skin and vision healthy. As an additive (E101), it provides yellow color and enables vitamin B2 fortification.

  5. What foods have riboflavin?

    Dairy (milk, yogurt, cheese), eggs, meats (especially liver), fish, green vegetables (e.g., spinach, broccoli), mushrooms, almonds, and fortified breads and cereals.

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  1. Is methylparaben bad?

    Not generally—methylparaben (E218) is a permitted food preservative and is considered safe at the low levels used in foods, being rapidly metabolized and excreted.

  2. Is methylparaben safe?

    Yes; regulators such as JECFA set an acceptable daily intake of 0–10 mg/kg body weight/day (for methyl and ethyl parabens), and typical dietary exposure is well below this.

  3. Does methylparaben cause cancer?

    There’s no convincing evidence that methylparaben causes cancer at dietary exposures, and it isn’t classified as a human carcinogen; its weak estrogenic activity occurs at doses far above food-use levels.

  4. Are methylparaben and propylparaben safe?

    Methylparaben is considered safe at permitted food levels; propylparaben is allowed at low levels in some places (e.g., GRAS in the U.S.) but is not authorized as a food additive in the EU.

  5. Is methylparaben bad for you?

    For most people, no—within legal limits it is regarded as safe and helps prevent spoilage; adverse reactions from ingestion are uncommon.

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