Potassium Sorbate vs Propyl Gallate: which is worse?
Quick answer: Propyl Gallate carries the heavier risk profile. Potassium Sorbate is — in the EU and — in the US; Propyl Gallate is — in the EU and — in the US.
| Property | Potassium Sorbate | Propyl Gallate |
|---|---|---|
| EU status | — | — |
| US status | — | — |
| Risk level | — | — |
| Banned in | — | Japan (banned for food use) |
| Restricted in | European Union (ADI 3 mg/kg body weight; maximum permitted levels vary by food category), Australia | European Union (restricted to 200 mg/kg in specific fat/oil applications), United Kingdom, Australia |
| Category | additive | additive |
| Where it hides | — | — |
What is Potassium Sorbate?
Potassium sorbate is the potassium salt of sorbic acid, a naturally occurring short-chain fatty acid originally derived from the mountain ash berry (Sorbus aucuparia). Commercial potassium sorbate is synthetically produced by reacting sorbic acid with potassium hydroxide. It is the most widely used food preservative globally.
What is Propyl Gallate?
Propyl gallate is a synthetic antioxidant preservative derived from gallic acid and propanol. It prevents oxidation of fats and oils, extending shelf life of fat-containing foods. It is often used in combination with BHA and BHT for synergistic antioxidant effect. Chemical formula: C10H12O5.
Documented risks
Potassium Sorbate: Potassium sorbate has a generally good safety profile compared to other synthetic preservatives. EFSA's 2015 re-evaluation maintained the ADI at 3 mg/kg body weight, finding no significant carcinogenicity or genotoxicity. However, some human and in vitro studies have documented concerns. A 2010 study in Toxicology in Vitro found potassium sorbate was genotoxic (caused DNA strand breaks) in human blood cells at concentrations achievable in food. The study found it damaged peripheral blood lymphocytes. A 2014 study in Food and Chemical Toxicology found potassium sorbate caused DNA damage in human lymphocytes at food use concentrations. Contact dermatitis and allergic reactions from topical use are documented. At very high doses in animal studies, liver and kidney effects have been observed. The general regulatory consensus is that potassium sorbate is one of the safer food preservatives, but the in vitro genotoxicity findings deserve attention.
Propyl Gallate: Animal studies have shown propyl gallate may cause liver damage at high doses. Concerns about estrogenic activity have been raised — some studies suggest propyl gallate may weakly mimic estrogen. Contact dermatitis and allergic reactions are documented in both food and cosmetic applications. Japan banned propyl gallate for food use as part of its precautionary approach to synthetic food preservatives. NTP bioassays found dose-dependent liver effects. EFSA's re-evaluation set an ADI of 0.1 mg/kg body weight — one of the lowest ADIs for food additives, reflecting toxicological concern.
Scan a barcode and we'll flag both Potassium Sorbate and Propyl Gallate (plus 200+ other ingredients banned overseas).
Scan free →