FDA Status
GRAS
Preservative · CAS 24634-61-5 · EU E202
Potassium Sorbate
FDA status: GRAS. EU: Approved. No U.S. state has enacted a specific ban yet.
5.0 / 5
Composite safety Generally Safe
Score 5 of 5
Potassium Sorbate: 5/5 (Generally Safe)
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Potassium Sorbate is classified GRAS by the FDA, and no U.S. state has moved to restrict it independently of federal policy. Its composite safety score is 5 out of 5 (Generally Safe), and the European Union separately classifies it as approved. It is a top-5% most widely-used additive.
- 97th percentile by tracked product prevalence
The verdict
Potassium Sorbate is classified GRAS by the FDA, and no U.S. state has moved to restrict it. It is a top-5% most widely-used additive (97th percentile by tracked product count).
- 5/5
- Generally Safe
- GRAS
- FDA status
- 97th pctile
- by product prevalence
- 0
- state regulations
Potassium Sorbate (E202), CAS 24634-61-5, is a preservative additive holding a composite safety score of 5 out of 5 (Generally Safe). According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Substances Added to Food inventory, it is currently classified as GRAS, while the European Union lists it as Approved. This ingredient appears in approximately 3,059 tracked food products across our database. It is most commonly used as Wine, cheese, baked goods, dried fruits.
No U.S. state has enacted specific legislation targeting Potassium Sorbate to date, keeping federal FDA classification as the operative standard. State-level food safety legislation remains active nationally, and that picture may shift as new bills advance.
Peer-reviewed research has flagged 1 distinct area of health concern for Potassium Sorbate, which factors directly into the assigned safety score. The European Food Safety Authority has published an evaluation dated 2015/06/30, with an Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) of 3. EFSA has noted an overexposure risk classification of "high" for typical consumption patterns. All figures above draw on FDA SAFFA inventory records, EU food additive regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, EFSA scientific opinions where published, and legislative records from individual U.S. states.
Regulatory Snapshot
| Property | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| FDA Status | GRAS | FDA SAFFA |
| EU Status | Approved | EC 1333/2008 |
| E-Number | E202 | EU additive register |
| CAS Number | 24634-61-5 | CAS Registry |
| Category | Preservative | FDA functional class |
| Composite Safety Score | 5 / 5 (Generally Safe) | PlainIngredients methodology |
| EFSA ADI | 3 | EFSA scientific opinion |
| U.S. State Actions | 0 states | State legislative records |
| Tracked Products | 3,059 | Open Food Facts (US) |
Values reflect official agency classifications as published by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Union's regulatory framework. See our methodology for scoring details.
EU Status
Approved
E202
U.S. State Regulations
0 states
None enacted
Safety Assessment
Potassium Sorbate's 5/5 (Generally Safe) score reflects where this specific ingredient lands on that scale. The FDA classifies Potassium Sorbate as "Generally Recognized As Safe" (GRAS), meaning qualified experts consider it safe under intended conditions of use.
Research has identified 1 area of health concern associated with Potassium Sorbate. Consumers with specific health conditions should consult a healthcare provider before consuming products containing this ingredient.
How Potassium Sorbate compares
Where a safety score of 5/5 falls among all 4,509 scored ingredients tracked on PlainIngredients.
Ingredients by safety score (Potassium Sorbate highlighted)
31 of 4,509 scored ingredients (0.7%) share a safety score of 5/5.
What is Potassium Sorbate?
Widely used preservative effective against molds and yeasts.
Health Concerns
- Generally considered one of the safest preservatives.
Common Uses
Wine, cheese, baked goods, dried fruits
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Potassium Sorbate safe to consume?
Potassium Sorbate has a safety score of 5/5 (Generally Safe). It is approved by the FDA for use in food. As with all food additives, moderation is advisable.
What is Potassium Sorbate used for in food?
Potassium Sorbate is commonly used as: Wine, cheese, baked goods, dried fruits. It belongs to the Preservative category of food additives.
Is Potassium Sorbate banned in any US states?
Currently, no US states have enacted specific bans or regulations targeting Potassium Sorbate. However, state food safety legislation is evolving rapidly.
What is the difference between FDA and EU regulation of Potassium Sorbate?
The FDA classifies Potassium Sorbate as "GRAS", while the EU status is "Approved" (E202). The FDA and EU use separate evaluation frameworks, the EU often applies the precautionary principle, sometimes banning additives that remain approved in the US. Always check both jurisdictions when evaluating food additive safety.
What health concerns are associated with Potassium Sorbate?
Research has identified the following health concerns for Potassium Sorbate: Generally considered one of the safest preservatives.. These findings inform its safety score of 5/5. Consult a healthcare provider for personalized guidance, especially if you have pre-existing conditions.
How is the safety score for Potassium Sorbate calculated?
The safety score of 5/5 for Potassium Sorbate is a composite assessment based on FDA regulatory status, EU approval status, published scientific research on health effects, and state-level legislative actions. A score of 1 means "Banned / Avoid" and 5 means "Generally Safe." The score is updated as new regulatory actions or scientific evidence emerge.
Data Sources
- FDA Substances Added to Food (SAFFA) Inventory
- EU Food Additive Regulations (EC) No 1333/2008
- State food safety legislation and bill records
Related Preservative Ingredients
What to do about Potassium Sorbate
Use the regulatory picture, not a single score, to decide.
- Check the FDA status (GRAS) and EU status (Approved) before assuming it is risk-free. How we score
- Compare it against the most-restricted additives in the U.S. supply. View rankings
- Scan a whole ingredient label at once to flag the concerning entries. Label checker
Safety scores summarise regulatory status and published concerns; they are not medical or dietary advice.
Every figure on PlainIngredients is rendered directly from FDA, EU, EFSA and U.S. state regulatory records, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.