Comparing E214 - Ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate vs E218 - Methyl p-hydroxybenzoate
Overview
Synonyms
Products
Found in 8 products
Found in 69 products
Search rank & volume
Awareness score
Search volume over time
Interest over time for 4 keywords in U.S. during the last 10 years.
Interest over time for 4 keywords in U.S. during the last 10 years.
Popular questions
How does ethylparaben work?
It acts as an antimicrobial preservative, primarily inhibiting yeasts and molds (and some bacteria) by disrupting cell membranes and enzyme function, which slows spoilage. Its effectiveness is greater in mildly acidic foods.
What is an e214?
E214 is ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate (ethylparaben), a synthetic paraben used as a food preservative; its sodium salt is E215.
What is ethylparaben found in?
Where permitted, it’s used in certain preserved foods such as beverages/syrups, confectionery, sauces or pickles, and some baked goods; it’s also common as a preservative in cosmetics and medicines.
What is ethylparaben methylparaben propylparaben?
They are parabens—the ethyl, methyl, and propyl esters of p-hydroxybenzoic acid—used as antimicrobial preservatives, differing mainly in solubility and antimicrobial spectrum.
What is the e number of ethylparaben?
E214.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.