Comparing E200 - Sorbic acid vs E240 - Formaldehyde
Overview
Synonyms
Products
Found in 6,918 products
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Awareness score
Awareness data is not available.
Search volume over time
Interest over time for 2 keywords in U.S. during the last 10 years.
Interest over time for 3 keywords in U.S. during the last 10 years.
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.
What is formaldehyde used for?
Primarily to make industrial resins, plastics, and disinfectants; as a food additive (E240) it was historically used as a preservative but is not permitted in the EU or US due to safety concerns.
What does formaldehyde smell like?
It has a strong, sharp, pungent (antiseptic) odor that is irritating and noticeable even at very low concentrations.
Is formaldehyde toxic?
Yes—it's acutely irritating/toxic and is classified as a known human carcinogen; it's not allowed as a food additive, though small amounts naturally present in foods are rapidly metabolized.
What does formaldehyde do to the body?
It reacts with tissues (proteins and DNA), causing eye, nose, and throat irritation and, at high doses, chemical burns if ingested; chronic inhalation increases certain cancer risks, though the body also produces and quickly metabolizes small amounts to formate and CO2.
Does fireball have formaldehyde in it?
No—Fireball does not contain added formaldehyde; a past European issue concerned propylene glycol, not formaldehyde.