Sodium sorbate
Function: Preservatives
E201 is the European food-additive number for Sodium sorbate, a preservative — used to extend shelf life by slowing spoilage from microbes. Sodium sorbate (E201) is a preservative used as a food additive.
What is E201 used for?
Sodium sorbate (E201) is a preservative — used to extend shelf life by slowing spoilage from microbes. It is added during food production for a technological purpose rather than for nutrition. See all Preservatives (E-numbers).
Is E201 safe or restricted?
E201 is an approved food additive in the EU and currently carries no special regulatory restrictions in the EU additive register. Forkin classifies it as “No known concern” and does not make health claims. See the methodology for how regulatory levels are assigned, or the guide to how EU additives are approved, re-evaluated and banned.
Is E201 vegan or vegetarian?
Sodium sorbate (E201) is typically produced from plant, mineral, or synthetic sources, so it is generally suitable for vegans and vegetarians.
The production source can vary between manufacturers — the Forkin app shows the verified vegan and vegetarian status per product. Always read the label for allergens.
Which foods contain E201?
E201 appears in 453 of the 4.7 million products in Forkin's catalogue — most often in Cakes, Cheese, and Pastry.
- Cakes18
- Cheese18
- Pastry18
- Sandwiches14
- Energy Drink9
- Chicken (General)9
- Sparkling Water8
- Sausages7
Often appears alongside
Additives most frequently found in the same ingredient lists as E201 across the catalogue.
Counts reflect Forkin's independently enriched product catalogue and update as new products are added — they are not a market-share statistic.
Frequently asked questions about E201
- What is E201?
- E201 is the E-number for Sodium sorbate, a preservative — used to extend shelf life by slowing spoilage from microbes. Sodium sorbate (E201) is a preservative used as a food additive.
- What is E201 used for?
- Sodium sorbate (E201) is a preservative — used to extend shelf life by slowing spoilage from microbes. Manufacturers add it during processing rather than for nutrition. The Forkin app shows which products in your scan history actually contain it.
- Which foods contain E201?
- E201 appears in 453 of the 4.7 million products in Forkin's catalogue — most often in Cakes, Cheese, and Pastry. Scan any barcode with the Forkin app to see instantly whether a specific product contains it.
- Is E201 vegan or vegetarian?
- Sodium sorbate (E201) is typically produced from plant, mineral, or synthetic sources, so it is generally suitable for vegans and vegetarians. The Forkin app shows the verified vegan and vegetarian status per product, since the source can vary between manufacturers.
- Is E201 safe, and is it banned anywhere?
- E201 is an approved food additive in the EU and currently carries no special regulatory restrictions in the EU additive register. Forkin classifies it as ‘No known concern’ and does not make health claims — see the methodology page for how regulatory levels are assigned, and the Forkin app for the full profile, including acceptable daily intake (ADI) and restrictions by country.
See the full profile in Forkin
The Forkin app surfaces the full regulatory profile of E201 — acceptable daily intake (ADI), restrictions by country, vegan and vegetarian status, alternative names, and which products in your scan history contain it. See view pricing.