- beauty
- cleaning
- food
- industrial
Methylparaben
CAS 99-76-3 · 40/100 · High conf.
Also registered as 3 other CAS numbers
58339-84-7 · 156291-94-0 · 1000398-37-7
Concern score
40/100Moderate concern based on regulatory listings.
High confidence
Methylparaben in plain language
Also known as Methyl hydroxybenzoate · Methyl parahydroxybenzoate · Methyl p-hydroxybenzoate · Methyl paraben · METHYL p-OXYBENZOATE · Benzoic acid, 4-HYDROXY-, methyl ester
Show all 39 names
Killitol · Methyl paraben (E218) · Methylparaben E218 · Moldex · Methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate · P-hydroxybenzoic methyl ester · Preserval m · Tegosept m · 4-(Carbomethoxy)phenol · 4-(Methoxycarbonyl)phenol · 4-HYDROXYBENZOESAEURE-METHYLESTER · 4-Hydroxybenzoate de methyle · 4-Hydroxybenzoic acid methyl ester · 4-hidroxibenzoato de metilo · E-218 · Ins NO.218 · INS-218 · Maseptol · Metaben · Methaben · Methyl 4-Hydrobenzoate · Methyl butex · Methyl paraben (Benzoic acid, 4-hydroxy-, methyl ester) · Methyl parasept · Metoxyde · Nipagin · Paridol · Preserval · Septos · Solbrol · methyl parabens (methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate) · methyl-p-hydroxybenzoate · p-Hydroxybenzoic acid methyl ester
Used in food as a preservative.
- Preservative
- Fragrance
- Flavouring
- Antimicrobial
- Moderate concern: no hazard classifications on record.
Why it's flagged
EPA CPDat observed this chemical in 14037 composition records across product categories including Home maintenance, Laboratory supplies, Specialty occupational products.
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. Methylparaben appears in these published regulatory listings.
- In marketed US drugs
- Inactive ingredient in US drugs
- Found in consumer products
- Beauty
- Cleaning
- Pharma
- Industrial
USFDAinactive ingredient database80 entries — 24 administration routes
- Route: BUCCAL; Dosage form: FILM, SOLUBLE; Maximum daily exposure: 3 mgSource →
- Route: DENTAL; Dosage form: PASTE, DENTIFRICE; Potency: 0.05 %w/wSource →
- Route: EPIDURAL; Dosage form: INJECTION; Potency: 1 mgSource →
- Route: EPIDURAL; Dosage form: INJECTION, SOLUTION; Maximum daily exposure: 30 mgSource →
- Route: INFILTRATION; Dosage form: INJECTION; Maximum daily exposure: 80 mgSource →
- Route: INTRA-ARTICULAR; Dosage form: INJECTION; Potency: 0.24 %w/vSource →
- Route: INTRADERMAL; Dosage form: INJECTION; Potency: 1 mgSource →
- Route: INTRALESIONAL; Dosage form: INJECTION; Potency: 0.15 %w/vSource →
- Route: INTRAMUSCULAR; Dosage form: INJECTION; Maximum daily exposure: 95 mgSource →
- Route: INTRAMUSCULAR; Dosage form: INJECTION, POWDER, FOR SOLUTION; Potency: 3.6 mgSource →
- Route: INTRAMUSCULAR; Dosage form: INJECTION, SOLUTION; Maximum daily exposure: 45 mgSource →
- Route: INTRAMUSCULAR; Dosage form: INJECTION, SUSPENSION; Maximum daily exposure: 1 mgSource →
- Route: INTRAMUSCULAR; Dosage form: SOLUTION; Potency: 0.13 %w/vSource →
- Route: INTRAVENOUS; Dosage form: INJECTION; Maximum daily exposure: 95 mgSource →
- Route: INTRAVENOUS; Dosage form: INJECTION, POWDER, FOR SOLUTION; Potency: 15 mgSource →
- Route: INTRAVENOUS; Dosage form: INJECTION, SOLUTION; Maximum daily exposure: 45 mgSource →
- Route: INTRAVENOUS; Dosage form: SOLUTION; Potency: 0.13 %w/vSource →
- Route: IONTOPHORESIS; Dosage form: SOLUTION; Potency: 0.1 %w/vSource →
- Route: IRRIGATION; Dosage form: SOLUTION; Potency: 2 %w/vSource →
- Route: NASAL; Dosage form: DROPS; Potency: 26 mgSource →
- Route: NASAL; Dosage form: JELLY; Potency: 250 mgSource →
- Route: NASAL; Dosage form: SOLUTION; Potency: 250 mgSource →
- Route: OPHTHALMIC; Dosage form: DROPS; Potency: 0.01 %w/wSource →
- Route: OPHTHALMIC; Dosage form: OINTMENT; Potency: 0.05 %w/wSource →
- Route: OPHTHALMIC; Dosage form: SOLUTION; Potency: 0.05 %w/wSource →
- Route: OPHTHALMIC; Dosage form: SOLUTION/ DROPS; Potency: 0.05 %w/vSource →
- Route: OPHTHALMIC; Dosage form: SUSPENSION/ DROPS; Potency: 0.05 %w/wSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: CAPSULE; Maximum daily exposure: 7 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: CAPSULE, EXTENDED RELEASE; Maximum daily exposure: 2 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: CONCENTRATE; Maximum daily exposure: 12 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: DROPS; Potency: 1 mg/1mlSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: ELIXIR; Potency: 800 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: GRANULE, FOR SUSPENSION; Maximum daily exposure: 80 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: LIQUID; Maximum daily exposure: 162 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: POWDER; Potency: NASource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: POWDER, FOR SOLUTION; Maximum daily exposure: 126 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: POWDER, FOR SUSPENSION; Maximum daily exposure: 75 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: SOLUTION; Maximum daily exposure: 346 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: SOLUTION, CONCENTRATE; Potency: 1 mg/1mlSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: SUSPENSION; Maximum daily exposure: 388 mgSource →
- + 40 more entries not shown
EUEFSAEFSA opinionOpinion of the Scientific Panel on Food Additives, Flavourings, Processing Aids and Materials in Contact with Food on a Request from the Commission related to para hydroxybenzoates (E 214-219) (EFSA AFC)
- Opinion of the Scientific Panel on Food Additives, Flavourings, Processing Aids and Materials in Contact with Food on a Request from the Commission related to para hydroxybenzoates (E 214-219) (EFSA AFC)Source →
GLOBALJECFA0-10 mg/kg bwJECFA evaluation lists ADI 0-10 mg/kg bw. Functional class: preservative.
- JECFA evaluation lists ADI 0-10 mg/kg bw. Functional class: preservative.Source →
GLOBALJECFAEvaluatedJECFA evaluation record.
- JECFA evaluation record.Source →
USEPAcommercial use observedEPA CPDat observed this chemical in 14037 composition records across product categories including Home maintenance, Laboratory supplies, Specialty occupational products. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Preservative, Fragrance, Biocide.
- EPA CPDat observed this chemical in 14037 composition records across product categories including Home maintenance, Laboratory supplies, Specialty occupational products. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Preservative, Fragrance, Biocide.Source →
USFDAmarketed drug occurrenceFDA NDC lists this ingredient in 5 active drug products and 15 total products.
- FDA NDC lists this ingredient in 5 active drug products and 15 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 0-10 mg/kg bw. Functional class: preservative.
Year not recorded · GLOBAL JECFA listing · Read the source →
JECFA evaluation record.
Year not recorded · GLOBAL JECFA listing · Read the source →
EFSA
European Food Safety Authority
Opinion of the Scientific Panel on Food Additives, Flavourings, Processing Aids and Materials in Contact with Food on a Request from the Commission related to para hydroxybenzoates (E 214-219) (EFSA AFC)
2004 · EU EFSA listing · Read the source →
Evidence & sources
No graded research studies for Methylparaben yet. This record is compiled from the published data sources below — registries and regulatory listings, not study findings.
Where this comes from
- Open →
EFSA OpenFoodTox
regulatory · updated 2026-10-04
- Open →
EPA Chemical and Products Database
exposure · updated september 9, 2014
- 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 2029-06-12
- 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
Reference links (1)
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.
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
Not a strong fit for fragrance avoidance because it carries Fragrance.
The ingredient itself is a fragrance-linked signal, so it is better treated as an avoid case when fragrance exposure is the main concern.
Where it has been recorded
How often EPA CPDat has listed Methylparaben in a product composition. These are source records, not Greenveil catalog products.
Source records
14,037
Named organisations
6
Home maintenanceLaboratory suppliesSpecialty occupational productsPesticidesVehicleRaw materials
Typical roles
PreservativeFragranceFlavouringAntimicrobial
Found in these products
Their ingredient lists include Methylparaben; each product's own rating depends on its whole formula, so it is shown on the product page, not here.
- Crema ManosS'nonas · Creams
- GlysolidNon Food Products
- MiswakDabur · Hygiene
- pantine pro-vpantine · Open Beauty Facts
- Crème mains hydratante concentrée Formule NorvégienneNeutrogena · Body
- Chargement…Non Food Products
- glydolidcRE · Open Beauty Facts
- sun protection
- VaselineOpen Beauty Facts
- oralboral b · Non Food Products
- Vaseline Intensive Care Aloë Soothe BodylotionUnilever, Vaseline · Bodylotion
- Vaseline Intensive Care Essential Healing BodylotionUnilever, Vaseline · Bodylotion
- Vaseline Intensive Care Essential Healing BodylotionUnilever, Vaseline · Bodylotion
- Crème pieds très secs et abîmésNeutrogena · Body
- Chargement…
- Vaseline daily brighteningNon Food Products
- Hydro Boost Aqua-GelNeutrogena · Face
- Vaseline Intensive Care Advanced Repair BodylotionUnilever, Vaseline · Bodylotion
- Vaseline Advanced Repair Intensive Rescue Bodylotionunilever, vaseline · Bodylotion
- miswak herbal toothpastedabur indialimited · Toothpaste
- daily moisturizing creamcerave · Lotion
- Vitamine cDisaar · Make Up
- Invisi'Gel aux actifs minérauxL'Oréal, Studio · Hair
- hand creamUnilever, Dove · For Fry Skin
Often appears with
Ingredients that frequently appear alongside Methylparaben in the catalog.