Calcium formiate
Function: Preservatives
E238 is the European food-additive number for Calcium formiate, a preservative — used to extend shelf life by slowing spoilage from microbes. Calcium formiate (E238) is a food additive used as a food additive.
What is E238 used for?
Calcium formiate (E238) 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 E238 safe or restricted?
E238 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 E238 vegan or vegetarian?
Calcium formiate (E238) 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 E238?
E238 appears in 20 of the 4.7 million products in Forkin's catalogue — most often in Hard Cheese, Smoked Cheese, and Pork (General).
- Hard Cheese6
- Smoked Cheese2
- Pork (General)1
- Pastry1
- Sweet Pastries1
- Dog Treats1
- Pizza, Pies & Quiches1
- Laundry1
Often appears alongside
Additives most frequently found in the same ingredient lists as E238 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 E238
- What is E238?
- E238 is the E-number for Calcium formiate, a preservative — used to extend shelf life by slowing spoilage from microbes. Calcium formiate (E238) is a food additive used as a food additive.
- What is E238 used for?
- Calcium formiate (E238) 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 E238?
- E238 appears in 20 of the 4.7 million products in Forkin's catalogue — most often in Hard Cheese, Smoked Cheese, and Pork (General). Scan any barcode with the Forkin app to see instantly whether a specific product contains it.
- Is E238 vegan or vegetarian?
- Calcium formiate (E238) 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 E238 safe, and is it banned anywhere?
- E238 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 E238 — 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.