beauty
cleaning
food
industrial

Sorbic acid

CAS 110-44-1 · 60/100 · High conf.

Also registered as 6 other CAS numbers

5309-56-8 · 34344-66-6 · 161814-42-2 · 91751-55-2 · 1197240-56-4 · 2747926-89-0

Concern score

60/100High concern based on regulatory listings.

High confidence

Sorbic acid in plain language

What it is: Also known as (E,E)-2,4-HEXADIENOIC acid · (E,E)-1,3-PENTADIENE-1-CARBOXYLIC acid · (E,E)-Hexa-2,4-dienoic acid · 2E,4E-Hexadienoic acid · (2E,4E)-Hexa-2,4-dienoic acid · 2,4-HEXADIENOIC acid, (e,e)-
Show all 27 names
(2E,4E)-2,4-Hexadienoic acid · (E,E)-2,4-Sorbic acid · (E,E)-Sorbic acid · .alpha.-trans-.gamma.-trans-sorbic acid · 2,4-Hexadienoic acid, (2E,4E)- · 2-PROPENYLACRYLIC acid · 2E,4E-Sorbic acid · Acetic acid, (2-butenylidene)- · Acetic acid, crotylidene- · Crotylidene acetic acid · Hexa -2,4-dienoic acid and its salts · Hexa-2,4-dienoic acid · Hexadienoic acid · Hexadienoic acid, (E,E) · INS-200 · Kyselina sorbova · Panosorb · Preservastat · Sorbistat · trans,trans-2,4-Hexadienoic acid · trans-Sorbic acid trans
What it does: Used in food as a flavouring agent and a preservative.
Flavouring agent
Preservative
Flavouring
Is it a concern?: High concern: no hazard classifications on record.

Why it's flagged

EPA CPDat observed this chemical in 1045 composition records across product categories including Food and drug, Laboratory supplies, Cleaning and safety.

The score describes this ingredient's chemical identity — its hazard profile from published classifications and regulatory status — not the safety of any product it appears in.

Regulation

No restrictions found. Sorbic acid appears in these published regulatory listings.

In marketed US drugs
Inactive ingredient in US drugs

Recorded in these product areas

Found in consumer products
Beauty
Cleaning
Pharma
Food
Industrial

USFDAinactive ingredient database21 entries — 4 administration routes
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET; Maximum daily exposure: 10 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET, CHEWABLE; Potency: NASource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET, COATED; Maximum daily exposure: 1 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET, DELAYED RELEASE; Potency: 0.03 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET, FILM COATED; Maximum daily exposure: 5 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET, FILM COATED, EXTENDED RELEASE; Maximum daily exposure: 1 mgSource →
- Route: SUBLINGUAL; Dosage form: TABLET; Potency: 0.16 mgSource →
- Route: TOPICAL; Dosage form: AEROSOL, FOAM; Maximum daily exposure: 6 mgSource →
- Route: TOPICAL; Dosage form: CREAM; Maximum daily exposure: 2 mgSource →
- Route: TOPICAL; Dosage form: GEL; Maximum daily exposure: 2 mgSource →
- Route: TOPICAL; Dosage form: LOTION; Maximum daily exposure: 4 mgSource →
- Route: TOPICAL; Dosage form: OINTMENT; Potency: 0.1 %w/wSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: SYRUP; Maximum daily exposure: 80 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: SUSPENSION; Maximum daily exposure: 40 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: SOLUTION; Maximum daily exposure: 80 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: CONCENTRATE; Maximum daily exposure: 1 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: CAPSULE, EXTENDED RELEASE; Potency: 0.94 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: CAPSULE; Potency: 0.94 mgSource →
- Route: OPHTHALMIC; Dosage form: SOLUTION/ DROPS; Potency: 0.2 %w/vSource →
- Route: OPHTHALMIC; Dosage form: SOLUTION; Potency: 0.2 %w/vSource →
- Route: OPHTHALMIC; Dosage form: EMULSION; Maximum daily exposure: 1 mgSource →
EUEFSAEFSA opinion6 entries
- Opinion on the follow-up of the re-evaluation of sorbic acid (E200) and potassium sorbate (E202) as food additives (EFSA FAF)Source →
- Scientific Opinion on the safety and efficacy of sorbic acid and potassium sorbate when used as technological additives for all animal species (EFSA FEEDAP)Source →
- Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of sorbic acid (E 200), potassium sorbate (E 202) and calcium sorbate (E 203) as food additives (EFSA ANS)Source →
- Scientific Opinion on Flavouring Group Evaluation 70, Revision 1 (FGE.70Rev1): consideration of aliphatic, linear, alpha,beta-unsaturated, di- and trienals and related alcohols, acids and esters evaluated by JECFA (61st-68th-69th meeting) (EFSA FAF)Source →
- Flavouring Group Evaluation 70 (FGE.70): Consideration of aliphatic, alicyclic, linear, alpha,beta-unsaturated, di- and trienals and related alcohols, acids and esters evaluated by JECFA (61st meeting) Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings and Processing Aids (CEF) (EFSA CEF)Source →
- Scientific Opinion on Flavouring Group Evaluation 96 (FGE.96): Consideration of 88 flavouring substances considered by EFSA for which EU production volumes / anticipated production volumes have been submitted on request by DG SANCO. Addendum to FGE. 51, 52, 53, 54, 56, 58, 61, 62, 63, 64, 68, 69, 70, 71, 73, 76, 77, 79, 80, 83, 84, 85 and 87 (EFSA CEF)Source →
GLOBALJECFA0-25 mg/kg bw (1973; SORBIC ACID)JECFA evaluation lists ADI 0-25 mg/kg bw (1973; SORBIC ACID). Functional class: flavouring agent.
- JECFA evaluation lists ADI 0-25 mg/kg bw (1973; SORBIC ACID). Functional class: flavouring agent.Source →
GLOBALJECFAEvaluatedJECFA evaluation record.
- JECFA evaluation record.Source →
GLOBALJECFA0-25 mg/kg bwJECFA evaluation lists ADI 0-25 mg/kg bw. Functional class: preservative.
- JECFA evaluation lists ADI 0-25 mg/kg bw. Functional class: preservative.Source →
USEPAcommercial use observedEPA CPDat observed this chemical in 1045 composition records across product categories including Food and drug, Laboratory supplies, Cleaning and safety. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Preservative, Flavouring and nutrient.
- EPA CPDat observed this chemical in 1045 composition records across product categories including Food and drug, Laboratory supplies, Cleaning and safety. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Preservative, Flavouring and nutrient.Source →
USFDAmarketed drug occurrenceFDA NDC lists this ingredient in 1 active drug products and 3 total products.
- FDA NDC lists this ingredient in 1 active drug products and 3 total products.Source →
USFDAlisted in openFDA substanceopenFDA substance registry classifies this ingredient as chemical.
- openFDA substance registry classifies this ingredient as chemical.Source →

Expert safety opinions

Independent scientific assessments cited by the records we hold, with the year and link where the record gives one.

JECFA
Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives
- JECFA evaluation lists ADI 0-25 mg/kg bw (1973; SORBIC ACID). Functional class: flavouring agent.
  Year not recorded · GLOBAL JECFA listing · Read the source →
- JECFA evaluation record.
  Year not recorded · GLOBAL JECFA listing · Read the source →
- JECFA evaluation lists ADI 0-25 mg/kg bw. Functional class: preservative.
  Year not recorded · GLOBAL JECFA listing · Read the source →
EFSA
European Food Safety Authority
- Opinion on the follow-up of the re-evaluation of sorbic acid (E200) and potassium sorbate (E202) as food additives (EFSA FAF)
  2019 · EU EFSA listing · Read the source →
- Scientific Opinion on the safety and efficacy of sorbic acid and potassium sorbate when used as technological additives for all animal species (EFSA FEEDAP)
  2014 · EU EFSA listing · Read the source →
- Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of sorbic acid (E 200), potassium sorbate (E 202) and calcium sorbate (E 203) as food additives (EFSA ANS)
  2015 · EU EFSA listing · Read the source →
- Scientific Opinion on Flavouring Group Evaluation 70, Revision 1 (FGE.70Rev1): consideration of aliphatic, linear, alpha,beta-unsaturated, di- and trienals and related alcohols, acids and esters evaluated by JECFA (61st-68th-69th meeting) (EFSA FAF)
  2019 · EU EFSA listing · Read the source →
- Flavouring Group Evaluation 70 (FGE.70): Consideration of aliphatic, alicyclic, linear, alpha,beta-unsaturated, di- and trienals and related alcohols, acids and esters evaluated by JECFA (61st meeting) Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings and Processing Aids (CEF) (EFSA CEF)
  2009 · EU EFSA listing · Read the source →
- Scientific Opinion on Flavouring Group Evaluation 96 (FGE.96): Consideration of 88 flavouring substances considered by EFSA for which EU production volumes / anticipated production volumes have been submitted on request by DG SANCO. Addendum to FGE. 51, 52, 53, 54, 56, 58, 61, 62, 63, 64, 68, 69, 70, 71, 73, 76, 77, 79, 80, 83, 84, 85 and 87 (EFSA CEF)
  2011 · EU EFSA listing · Read the source →

Evidence & sources

No graded research studies for Sorbic acid yet. This record is compiled from the published data sources below — registries and regulatory listings, not study findings.

9 data sources

Where this comes from

EFSA OpenFoodTox
regulatory · updated 2026-10-04
Open →
EPA Chemical and Products Database
exposure · updated july 18, 2012
Open →
EPA DSSTox Identifiers
chemistry · updated 2025-12-29
Open →
FDA Inactive Ingredient Database
regulatory · updated 2026-01-09
Open →
FDA National Drug Code Directory
regulatory · updated 2028-03-06
Open →
FDA GSRS UNII
registry · updated 2026-02-26
Open →
WHO JECFA Database
regulatory · updated 2026-10-04
Open →
openFDA Substance
registry · updated 2026-05-24
Open →
PubChem Live Enrichment
chemistry · updated 2026-05-17
Open →

Reference links (1)

Openfda substance

codexalimentarius.net

Read →

Suitability

Context-specific fit derived from published classifications and the current ingredient evidence profile.

Food use

Food-use source coverage is present in the current record.

Good fit

The ingredient appears in food-oriented source coverage or allowed-use references, which makes food use easier to support than a context with no domain signal at all.

Fragrance avoidance

No fragrance-linked caution surfaced in the current profile.

Good fit

This ingredient does not currently read as a fragrance-linked driver in the published evidence and hazard profile.

Where it has been recorded

How often EPA CPDat has listed Sorbic acid in a product composition. These are source records, not Greenveil catalog products.

Source records

1,045

Named organisations

Food and drugLaboratory suppliesCleaning and safetyPersonal careHome maintenanceCleaning products and household care

Typical roles

Flavouring agentPreservativeFlavouring

See products using Sorbic acid →

Catalog

Found in these products

Their ingredient lists include Sorbic acid; each product's own rating depends on its whole formula, so it is shown on the product page, not here.

See all 415 →Find products without it →