Comparing E218 - Methyl p-hydroxybenzoate vs E280 - Propionic acid
Overview
Synonyms
Products
Found in 69 products
Found in 448 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
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.
Where does propionic acid come from?
It occurs naturally, produced by Propionibacterium in fermented foods (like Swiss-type cheeses) and in the human gut, and is also made commercially by microbial fermentation or petrochemical synthesis.
Is propionic acid a strong acid?
No—it's a weak carboxylic acid (pKa about 4.9), similar in strength to acetic acid.
What is propionic acid used for?
As a food additive (E280), it acts as a preservative that inhibits mold and some bacteria, commonly used in bread, baked goods, and cheese; its salts (e.g., calcium or sodium propionate) are also used.
How is propionic acid made?
It’s produced industrially via petrochemical routes (e.g., hydroformylation/oxidation of ethylene or hydrocarboxylation) and by fermentation using Propionibacterium on sugars or glycerol.
How to reset a sansa e280?
This question is unrelated to the food additive E280 (propionic acid); for resetting a Sansa e280 media player, please consult the device manual or the manufacturer’s support site.