Comparing E200 - Sorbic acid vs E217 - Sodium propyl para-hydroxybenzoate

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Overview

E200 - Sorbic acid

Sorbic acid (E200) is a common food preservative that helps stop molds and yeasts from growing. It works best in slightly acidic foods and has been used safely for decades in many everyday products. It often appears on ingredient lists as sorbic acid or simply E200.

E217 - Sodium propyl para-hydroxybenzoate

Sodium propyl para-hydroxybenzoate (E217) is a preservative from the paraben family. It helps stop molds and yeasts from growing, which keeps foods fresher for longer. Rules for its use can differ by country, and labels may list it as “E217,” “sodium propyl paraben,” or “sodium propyl p-hydroxybenzoate.”

Synonyms

E200

Sorbic acid

E217

Sodium propyl para-hydroxybenzoate

Functions

preservative

Origins

Plant

Synthetic

Products

Found in 6,918 products

Found in 0 products

Search rank & volume

#2173.2K / mo🇺🇸U.S.

#49140 / mo🇺🇸U.S.

Awareness score

×0.07

under-aware

Awareness data is not available.

Search volume over time

Interest over time for 2 keywords in U.S. during the last 10 years.

Search history data is not available.

Popular questions

Is sorbic acid bad for you?
Not for most people—it's a widely approved food preservative with low toxicity at permitted levels; rare individuals may experience mild irritation or digestive upset with high exposure.
Is sorbic acid safe for dogs?
Yes, when used at regulated amounts as a preservative in dog foods it’s considered safe; excessive intake may cause stomach upset in sensitive dogs.
Is sorbic acid safe?
Yes—it's approved in the EU (E200) and generally recognized as safe (GRAS) in the U.S. at typical food-use levels, with adverse effects uncommon at those amounts.
What is sorbic acid made from?
Commercially it’s synthesized from crotonaldehyde and ketene; it also occurs naturally in small amounts in rowan (mountain ash) berries.
Is sorbic acid natural?
It occurs naturally in some fruits, but the sorbic acid used in foods is almost always synthetically produced and is chemically identical to the natural compound.