Learn Glossary preservative

Sodium Sorbate(E201)

Level 3ContestedIn Winter's Dictionary

Sodium Sorbate is a preservative — Food preservative in cheeses and fruit products

What it does

Food preservative in cheeses and fruit products

Where you'll see it

cheeses, fruit butters, sweetened fruit jelly, preserves, jams, margarines

What the research says

Reported in 1984 as a weak genotoxic additive

Regulatory status

  • US FDA: GRAS
  • EU: approved
  • Notes: ASP; reported genotoxic though weakly

Sources

  • A Consumer's Dictionary of Food Additives (Winter): sodium sorbate is a genotoxicity additive although its potency seems to be weak