About
Potassium sorbate is the potassium salt of sorbic acid, widely used as a food preservative to inhibit the growth of molds, yeasts, and fungi across a broad range of food products. It is one of the most commonly used preservatives globally due to its broad antimicrobial spectrum, water solubility, and favourable safety profile.
Safety summary
EFSA established a group ADI of 11 mg sorbic acid/kg body weight per day for sorbic acid (E200) and potassium sorbate (E202) combined, with dietary exposure estimates not exceeding this ADI in any population group at mean or high intake levels. No evidence of genotoxic activity was found for potassium sorbate itself in standard toxicological evaluations; however, in vitro studies indicate that decomposition products formed when potassium sorbate reacts with ascorbic acid in the presence of iron salts can exhibit mutagenic activity. Chronic kidney disease patients face an additional concern, as potassium sorbate is the most frequently occurring potassium-containing food additive in processed foods and can contribute meaningfully to total dietary potassium load.
Regulatory landscape
| Jurisdiction | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union) | Approved | Authorised under Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 Annex II; ADI of 11 mg sorbic acid/kg bw/day applies as a group ADI shared with E200; maximum use levels vary by food category from 200 mg/kg to quantum satis per Commission Regulation (EU) No 1129/2011; extended use in non-heat-treated plant-based mousses authorised by Commission Regulation (EU) 2025/2060.source |
| FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India) | Approved | Listed as INS 202 (Potassium sorbate) in FSSAI Appendix C as a permitted preservative under Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011; maximum limits vary by food category as specified in applicable schedule tables.source |
| FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (United States) | Approved | Listed as GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) under 21 CFR 182.3640 as a chemical preservative; use permitted under GMP conditions with no established numeric ADI.source |
Who should approach with care
Research citations
- 1FDA. CFR Title 21, Section 182.3640 – Potassium Sorbate (GRAS Preservative). accessdata.fda.gov
- 2PubMed. Estimation of Dietary Exposure to Sodium Benzoate (E211) and Potassium Sorbate (E202) of Children and Adolescents in the Oran Region, Algeria, 2024. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 3PubMed. Are Food Additives a Really Problematic Hidden Source of Potassium for Chronic Kidney Disease Patients?, 2021. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 4EFSA. Opinion on the follow-up of the re-evaluation of sorbic acid (E200) and potassium sorbate (E202) as food additives, 2019. efsa.europa.eu
- 5PubMed. Opinion on the follow-up of the re-evaluation of sorbic acid (E200) and potassium sorbate (E202) as food additives (PubMed-indexed), 2019. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 6EFSA. Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of sorbic acid (E 200), potassium sorbate (E 202) and calcium sorbate (E 203) as food additives, 2015.