Additives
Preservative
A list of food additives used as preservative. Each additive is clearly marked if it is vegan friendly or not. Any banned additives are marked in red. We have found this extremely helpful when looking up ingredients of products to determine if they are vegan friendly or not. You can use the filter below to narrow your search down.
Disclaimer
Food ingredients, nutrition and recipes change frequently. It is highly recommended that you double check the product labels. This list is based on products found at our local supermarkets in Australia. Check your store for details and availability.
Some of the products may contain traces of animal products due to the manufacturing process or equipment used, however, their actual ingredients are vegan friendly. We advise you double check the product labels if this may concern you.
If you believe a product should be added or removed, please contact us
Some of the products may contain traces of animal products due to the manufacturing process or equipment used, however, their actual ingredients are vegan friendly. We advise you double check the product labels if this may concern you.
If you believe a product should be added or removed, please contact us
| Code | Name | Category | Notes | Vegan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E200 | Sorbic acid | Preservative | Naturally occurs in fruit | Yes |
| E201 | Sodium sorbate/sorbic acid | Preservative | Sodium salt of sorbic acid which occurs naturally in fruit | Yes |
| E202 | Potassium sorbate | Preservative | Potassium salt of sorbic acid which occurs naturally in food | Yes |
| E203 | Calcium sorbate | Preservative | Calcium salt of sorbic acid which occurs naturally in food | Yes |
| E210 | Benzoic acid | Preservative | Commonly found in fruits and trees | Yes |
| E211 | Sodium benzoate | Preservative | Commonly found in fruits | Yes |
| E212 | Potassium benzoate | Preservative | Commonly found in fruits | Yes |
| E213 | Calcium benzoate | Preservative | Commonly found in fruits. Calcium salt of benzoic acid. | Yes |
| E214 | Ethyl 4-hydroxybenzoate | Preservative | Commonly found in fruits. Derivative of benzoic acid. | Yes |
| E215 | Sodium para-hydroxybenzoate | Preservative | Sodium salt of E214. Banned. | Yes |
| E216 | Propylparaben/propyl para-hydroxybenzoate | Preservative | Made from benzoic acid. Commonly found in fruits. | Yes |
| E217 | Sodium propyl para-hydroxybenzoate | Preservative | Sodium salt of E216. Banned. | Yes |
| E218 | Methylparaben/methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate | Preservative | Made from benzoic acid | Yes |
| E219 | Sodium hmethyl p-hydroxybenzoate | Preservative | Sodium salt of E218. Banned. | Yes |
| E220 | Sulphur dioxide | Preservative | Naturally occuring gas in atmosphere | Yes |
| E221 | Sodium sulphite | Preservative | Sodium salt of sulphurous acid | Yes |
| E222 | Sodium hydrogen sulphite/sodium bisulphite | Preservative | White powder that reacts with oxygen | Yes |
| E223 | Sodium Metabisulphite | Preservative | Sodium salt of sulphurous acid | Yes |
| E224 | Potassium Metabisulphite | Preservative | Potassium salt of sulphurous acid | Yes |
| E225 | Potassium Sulphite | Preservative | White powder that reacts with oxygen | Yes |
| E226 | Calcium Sulphite | Preservative | Calcium salt of sulphurous acid. Banned. | Yes |
| E227 | Calcium Hydrogen Sulphite | Preservative | Calcium salt of sulphurous acid. Banned. | Yes |
| E228 | Potassium bisulphite/potassium hydrogen sulphite | Preservative | Potassium salt of sulphurous acid | Yes |
| E230 | Biphenyl/diphenyl | Preservative | Banned. | Yes |
| E231 | Orthophynl phenol/2-hydroxybiphenyl | Preservative | Banned. | Yes |
| E232 | Sodium orthophenyl phenol/sodium biphenyl-2-yl oxide | Preservative | Sodium salt of E231 | Yes |
| E233 | Thiabendazole/2-(thiazol-4-yl)benzimidazole | Preservative | Banned. | Yes |
| Sponsored | ||||
| E234 | Nisin | Preservative | Short protein from bacteria | Yes |
| E235 | Natamycin/pimaracin | Preservative | Derived from bacteria | Yes |
| E236 | Formic Acid | Preservative | Occurs naturally in ants but commercially synthesized from chemicals. Banned. | Yes |
| E237 | Sodium Formate | Preservative | Sodium salt of E236. Banned. | Yes |
| E238 | Calcium Formate | Preservative | Calcium salt of E236. Banned. | Yes |
| E239 | Hexamine/tetramine/hexamethylene | Preservative | Synthesized from formaldehyde and ammonia. Banned. | Yes |
| E240 | Formaldehyde | Preservative | Commercially synthesized from methanol | Yes |
| E242 | Dimethyl dicarbonate/DMDC | Preservative | Commercially synthesized from chemicals | Yes |
| E249 | Potassium nitrite | Preservative | Potassium salt of nitrous acid or naturally occuring mineral | Yes |
| E250 | Sodium nitrite | Preservative | Sodium salt of nitrous acid or naturally occuring mineral | Yes |
| E251 | Sodium nitrate | Preservative | Naturally occuring mineral and common in vegetables | Yes |
| E252 | Potassium nitrate | Preservative | Naturally occuring but may be synthesized from animal waste matter | No |
| E260 | Acetic acid | Preservative | Naturally occuring acid | Yes |
| E261 | Potassium acetate | Preservative | Naturally occuring acid | Yes |
| E262i | Sodium acetate and anydrous | Preservative | Sodium salt of acetic acid and common in fruits | Yes |
| E262ii | Sodium diacetate | Preservative | Sodium salt of acetic acid and common in fruits | Yes |
| E263 | Calcium acetate | Preservative | Calcium salt of acetic acid | Yes |
| E270 | Lactic acid | Preservative | “Lac” ingredients are usually produced by a fermentation process using cornstarch or beet sugar, however, in some cases whey or yoghurt may be used. | No |
| E280 | Propionic acid | Preservative | Natural acid produced by bacteria | Yes |
| E281 | Sodium propionate | Preservative | Sodium salt of propionic acid produced by bacteria | Yes |
| E282 | Calcium propionate | Preservative | Calcium salt of propionic acid produced by bacteria | Yes |
| E283 | Potassium propionate | Preservative | Potassium salt of propionic acid produced by bacteria | Yes |
| E284 | Boric acid | Preservative | Natural acid. Commercially made from boron. | Yes |
| E285 | Sodium tetraborate/borax | Preservative | Sodium salt of boric acid. Natural but commerically made from boron. | Yes |
| E290 | Carbin dioxide | Preservative | Naturally occuring gas | Yes |
| E296 | Malic acid | Preservative | Naturally present in fruits and vegetables. Commercially chemically synthesized. | Yes |
| E297 | Fumaric acid | Preservative | Naturally present in fruits and vegetables. Commercially chemically synthesized. | Yes |
