Recombinant Bovine Somatotropin vs Potassium Sorbate: which is worse?
Quick answer: Recombinant Bovine Somatotropin carries the heavier risk profile. Recombinant Bovine Somatotropin is — in the EU and — in the US; Potassium Sorbate is — in the EU and — in the US.
| Property | Recombinant Bovine Somatotropin | Potassium Sorbate |
|---|---|---|
| EU status | — | — |
| US status | — | — |
| Risk level | — | — |
| Banned in | European Union, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand | — |
| Restricted in | — | European Union (ADI 3 mg/kg body weight; maximum permitted levels vary by food category), Australia |
| Category | additive | additive |
| Where it hides | — | — |
What is Recombinant Bovine Somatotropin?
Recombinant bovine somatotropin (rBST) is the synthetic version of bovine growth hormone (BST), naturally produced by the pituitary gland in cattle. The recombinant version is produced using genetically engineered bacteria and is injected into dairy cows to increase milk production by 10-15%. Brand name: Posilac.
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.
Documented risks
Recombinant Bovine Somatotropin: See recombinant-bovine-growth-hormone-rbgh for full detail. Key concerns: rBST elevates IGF-1 in milk; elevated blood IGF-1 is associated with breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer risk in epidemiological studies. Animal welfare: increased mastitis (up to 25-50% higher rates), lameness, and antibiotic use. The Codex Alimentarius Commission declined to endorse rBST safety MRLs in a historic 33-29 vote. Health Canada rejected rBST approval in 1999 after finding it caused significant animal health problems requiring increased antibiotic use.
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.
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