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E Numbers 200 to 299 - Preservatives
| E-Number | Name | Origin | Origin(Other) |
| E200 | Sorbic Acid | Sorbic acid naturally occurs in the fruit of the European Mountain-ash (Sorbus aucuparia ), after which the acid is named. It is commercially produced by several different chemical pathways | |
| E201 | Sodium sorbate / Sorbic acid sodium salt | Sodium salt of sorbic acid (E200), which naturally occurs in the fruit of the European Mountain-ash (Sorbus aucuparia ), after which the acid is named. It is commercially produced by several different chemical pathways | |
| E202 | Potassium sorbate | Potassium salt of sorbic acid (E200), which naturally occurs in the fruit of the European Mountain-ash (Sorbus aucuparia ), after which the acid is named. It is commercially produced by several different chemical pathways | |
| E203 | Calcium sorbate | Calcium salt of sorbic acid (E200), which naturally occurs in the fruit of the European Mountain-ash (Sorbus aucuparia ), after which the acid is named. It is commercially produced by several different chemical pathways | |
| E210 | Benzoic acid | Benzoic acid, benzoates and benzoic acid esters are commonly found in most fruits, especially berries. Cranberries are a very rich source of benzoic acid. In addition to fruits, benzoates occur naturally in mushrooms, cinnamon, cloves and some dairy products (due to bacterial fermentation). For commercial purposes, it is prepared chemically from toluene | |
| E211 | Sodium benzoate / Benzoic acid sodium salt | Benzoic acid, benzoates and benzoic acid esters are commonly found in most fruits, especially berries. Cranberries are a very rich source of benzoic acid. In addition to fruits, benzoates occur naturally in mushrooms, cinnamon, cloves and some dairy products (as a result of bacterial fermentation). For commercial purposes, it is prepared chemically from toluene | |
| E212 | Potassium benzoate / Benzoic acid potassium salt | Benzoic acid, benzoates and benzoic acid esters are commonly found in most fruits, especially berries. Cranberries are a very rich source of benzoic acid. In addition to fruits, benzoates occur naturally in mushrooms, cinnamon, cloves and some dairy products (as a result of bacterial fermentation). For commercial purposes, it is prepared chemically from toluene | |
| E213 | Calcium benzoate / Benzoic acid calcium salt | Benzoic acid, benzoates and benzoic acid esters are commonly found in most fruits, especially berries. Cranberries are a very rich source of benzoic acid. In addition to fruits, benzoates occur naturally in mushrooms, cinnamon, cloves and some dairy products (as a result of bacterial fermentation). For commercial purposes, it is prepared chemically from toluene | |
| E214 | Ethyl 4-hydroxybenzoate | Synthetic ethyl ester of benzoic acid. Benzoic acid, benzoates and benzoic acid esters are commonly found in most fruits, especially berries. Cranberries are a very rich source of benzoic acid. In addition to fruits, benzoates occur naturally in mushrooms, cinnamon, cloves and some dairy products (as a result of bacterial fermentation). For commercial purposes, benzoic acid is prepared chemically from toluene and then esterified | |
| E215 | Ethyl 4-hydroxybenzoate sodium salt | Synthetic ethyl ester of benzoic acid. Benzoic acid, benzoates and benzoic acid esters are commonly found in most fruits, especially berries. Cranberries are a very rich source of benzoic acid. In addition to fruits, benzoates occur naturally in mushrooms, cinnamon, cloves and some dairy products (as a result of bacterial fermentation). For commercial purposes, benzoic acid is prepared chemically from toluene and then esterified | |
| E216 | Propyl 4-hydroxybenzoate | Synthetic e thyl ester of benzoic acid. Benzoic acid, benzoates and benzoic acid esters are commonly found in most fruits, especially berries. Cranberries are a very rich source of benzoic acid. In addition to fruits, benzoates occur naturally in mushrooms, cinnamon, cloves and some dairy products (as a result of bacterial fermentation). For commercial purposes, benzoic acid is prepared chemically from toluene and then esterified | |
| E217 | Sodium salt of E216 | Synthetic e thyl ester of benzoic acid. Benzoic acid, benzoates and benzoic acid esters are commonly found in most fruits, especially berries. Cranberries are a very rich source of benzoic acid. In addition to fruits, benzoates occur naturally in mushrooms, cinnamon, cloves and some dairy products (as a result of bacterial fermentation). For commercial purposes, benzoic acid is prepared chemically from toluene and then esterified | |
| E218 | Methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate | Synthetic e thyl ester of benzoic acid. Benzoic acid, benzoates and benzoic acid esters are commonly found in most fruits, especially berries. Cranberries are a very rich source of benzoic acid. In addition to fruits, benzoates occur naturally in mushrooms, cinnamon, cloves and some dairy products (as a result of bacterial fermentation). For commercial purposes, benzoic acid is prepared chemically from toluene and then esterified | |
| E219 | Sodium salt of E218 | Synthetic ethyl ester of benzoic acid. Benzoic acid, benzoates and benzoic acid esters are commonly found in most fruits, especially berries. Cranberries are a very rich source of benzoic acid. In addition to fruits, benzoates occur naturally in mushrooms, cinnamon, cloves and some dairy products (as a result of bacterial fermentation). For commercial purposes, benzoic acid is prepared chemically from toluene and then esterified | |
| E220 | Sulphur dioxide | Sulphur is a common element. Sulphur dioxide is produced by burning sulphur. Its use as a preservative is associated with ancient history; it had been widely used in ancient Egypt and the Roman Empire | |
| E221 | Sodium sulphite | Sodium salt of sulphurous acid | |
| E222 | Sodium hydrogen sulphite | Mono-s odium salt of sulphurous acid | |
| E223 | Sodium metabisulphite | S odium salt of sulphurous acid | |
| E224 | Potassium metabisulphite | Potassium salt of sulphurous acid | |
| E225 | Potassium sulphite | Potassium salt of sulphurous acid | |
| E226 | Calcium sulphite | Calcium salt of sulphurous acid | |
| E227 | Calcium hydrogen sulphite | Calcium salt of sulphurous acid | |
| E228 | Potassium hydrogen sulphite | Potassium salt of sulphurous acid | |
| E230 | Biphenyl | Synthesised from benzene | |
| E231 | 2-hydroxybiphenyl | Synthesised from phenyl ether | |
| E232 | Sodium biphenyl-2-yl oxide | Sodium salt of phenylphenol, synthesised from phenyl ether | |
| E233 | 2-(Thiazol-4-yl)benzimidazole | Synthetic fungicide | |
| E234 | Nisin | Nisin is a polypeptide (short protein) antibiotic produced by the bacterium Lactococcus lactis , normally used in cheese production | |
| E235 | Pimaracin | Pimaracin is an antibiotic produced by the bacteria Streptomyces natalensis and S. chattanoogensis | |
| E236 | Formic acid | Formic acid is naturally present in ants, but also in many fruits (such as apples, strawberries and raspberries), honey and nettles. Commercially produced from sulphuric acid, sodium hydroxide and carbon monoxide | |
| E237 | Sodium formate | Commercially synthesised from sodium hydroxide and carbon monoxide. Present naturally as formic acid (see 236) | Formic acid is naturally present in ants, but also in many fruits (such as apples, strawberries and raspberries), honey and nettles. Commercially produced from sulphuric acid, sodium hydroxide and carbon monoxide |
| E238 | Calcium formate | Commercially synthesised from calcium hydroxide and carbon monoxide. Present in nature as formic acid (see 236) | Formic acid is naturally present in ants, but also in many fruits (such as apples, strawberries and raspberries), honey and nettles. Commercially produced from sulphuric acid, sodium hydroxide and carbon monoxide |
| E239 | Hexamine | Commercially synthesised from formaldehyde and ammonia | |
| E240 | Formaldehyde | Formaldehyde is formed naturally by smoking or heating protein-rich foods. Commercially synthesised from methanol | |
| E242 | Dimethylcarbonate | Chemically synthesised | |
| E249 | Potassium nitrite | Naturally occurring mineral. Can be mined or produced chemically from potassium nitrate | |
| E250 | Sodium nitrite | Naturally occurring mineral. Can be mined or produced chemically from sodium nitrate | |
| E251 | Sodium nitraite | Naturally occurring mineral. Also present in nearly all vegetables | |
| E252 | Potassium nitrate | Naturally occurring mineral. Also present in nearly all vegetables | |
| E260 | Acetic acid | Natural acid, present in most fruits. Produced by bacterial fermentation and thus present in all fermented products. Commercially produced by bacterial fermentation of sugar, molasses or alcohol or by chemical synthesis from acetealdehyde | |
| E261 | Potassium acetate | Potassium salt of acetic acid, an natural acid, present in most fruits. Produced by bacterial fermentation and thus present in all fermented products. Commercially produced by bacterial fermentation of sugar, molasses or alcohol or by chemical synthesis from acetealdehyde | |
| E262 | Sodium acetate | Sodium salt of acetic acid, an natural acid, present in most fruits. Produced by bacterial fermentation and thus present in all fermented products. Commercially produced by bacterial fermentation of sugar, molasses or alcohol or by chemical synthesis from acetealdehyde | |
| E263 | Calcium acetate | Calcium salt of acetic acid, an natural acid, present in most fruits. Produced by bacterial fermentation and thus present in all fermented products. Commercially produced by bacterial fermentation of sugar, molasses or alcohol or by chemical synthesis from acetealdehyde | |
| E270 | Lactic acid | Natural acid produced by bacteria in fermented foods. All fermented foods are very rich in lactic acid. Commercially produced by bacterial fermentation on starch and molasses. Also produced in large amounts in the large intestine by the resident bacteria | Made by bacterial fermentation on sugar waste (molasses). It is not present in milk. All fermented products (dairy and non-dairy) contain lactic acid as the result of bacterial fermentation. Commercially only prepared from sugar |
| E280 | Propionic acid | Natural acid present in small quantities in many foods, sometimes in high concentrations produced by bacteria in fermented foods, such as types of Swiss cheese. It is also produced on a large scale by the bacteria in the large intestine. It is also a normal component of sweat | |
| E281 | Sodium propionate | Sodium salt of propionic acid, a natural acid present in small quantities in many foods, sometimes in high concentrations produced by bacteria in fermented foods, such as types of Swiss cheese. It is also produced on a large scale by the bacteria in the large intestine | |
| E282 | Calcium propionate | Calcium salt of propionic acid, a natural acid present in small quantities in many foods, sometimes in high concentrations produced by bacteria in fermented foods, such as types of Swiss cheese. It is also produced on a large scale by the bacteria in the large intestine | |
| E283 | Potassium propionate | Potassium salt of propionic acid, a natural acid present in small quantities in many foods, sometimes in high concentrations produced by bacteria in fermented foods, such as types of Swiss cheese. It is also produced on a large scale by the bacteria in the large intestine | |
| E284 | Boric acid | Natural acid, but commercially produced from boron | |
| E285 | Sodium tetraborate | Sodium salt of boric acid, a natural acid, but commercially produced from boron | |
| E290 | Carbon dioxide | Normal natural gas. Part of air and produced by the metabolism of the body | |
| E296 | Malic acid | Malic acid is a natural acid present in most fruits and many vegetables. Commercially made by chemical synthesis. It is part of the metabolic pathway of every living cell | |
| E297 | Fumaric acid | Fumaric acid is a natural acid present in many fruits and vegetables. Commercially made by fermentation of sugar by fungi or by chemical synthesis. It is part of the metabolic pathway in every living cell |
