Sorbic acid is a preservative that makes food last longer. Read here which products contain the acid, how it works and whether you should avoid it.

Sorbic acid is used as a preservative in food, cosmetics and detergents. Since the acid is only found in low concentrations in food, it usually does not change the taste.

Sorbic acid: where is it found?

Sorbic acid is used as a food preservative in
conventional packaged products such as bread, cheese and meat substitutes
fruit spreads and jam sugar
fish products and shrimp
dried fruit

A precursor of sorbic acid occurs in the rowan berries of the mountain ash. The name sorbic acid is derived from its Latin name Sorbus aucuparia. As an additive, however, sorbic acid is obtained synthetically.

Avoid sorbic acid?

sorbic acid is considered harmless to health and has a low allergenic potential. For every kilogram of body weight, a person can take 25 milligrams of sorbic acid and sorbates daily throughout his life without any harm to his health.

sorbic acid can cause pseudo-allergies, for example, if you suffer from neurodermatitis or asthma. A pseudo-allergy is an intolerance that causes symptoms similar to those of an allergy. However, unlike allergies, pseudo-allergies do not produce any antibodies.

If you want to avoid sorbic acid due to a pseudo-allergy, also look out for the names E200 and hexadienoic acid on ingredient lists.