Comparing E218 - Methyl p-hydroxybenzoate vs E235 - Natamycin
Overview
Synonyms
Products
Found in 69 products
Found in 4,349 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 3 keywords in U.S. during the last 10 years.
Popular questions
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.
What is natamycin in cheese?
A natural antifungal preservative (E235) applied to the surface of cheeses to prevent mold and yeast growth; it stays near the rind and has minimal penetration or effect on flavor.
Natamycin what is it?
Natamycin (E235) is a polyene antifungal produced by Streptomyces, used in foods to inhibit molds/yeasts and also as a topical antifungal medicine.
How natamycin works?
It binds to ergosterol in fungal cell membranes, disrupting their function and stopping mold and yeast growth; it doesn’t act on bacteria because they lack ergosterol.
Is natamycin an antibiotic?
Yes—it's an antifungal antibiotic (polyene), but in foods it’s used specifically to control molds and yeasts and isn’t active against bacteria.
Why did whole foods ban natamycin?
Whole Foods excludes natamycin under its ingredient standards that avoid certain preservatives/antimicrobial agents; this is a retailer policy choice rather than a regulatory safety ban.