Dimethyl dicarbonate
Function: Preservatives
E242 is the European food-additive number for Dimethyl dicarbonate, a preservative — used to extend shelf life by slowing spoilage from microbes. DIMETHYL DICARBONATE is an organic compound which is a colorless liquid with a pungent odor at high concentration at room temperature.
What is E242 used for?
Dimethyl dicarbonate (E242) 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 E242 safe or restricted?
E242 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 E242 vegan or vegetarian?
Dimethyl dicarbonate (E242) 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 product-specific vegan and vegetarian signals where available, based on ingredient and label data. Always read the label for allergens.
Which foods contain E242?
E242 appears in 627 of the 4.9 million products in Forkin's catalogue — most often in Flavored Water, Electrolyte / Sports Drink, and Wine.
- Flavored Water108
- Electrolyte / Sports Drink60
- Wine40
- Iced Tea39
- Sparkling Water31
- Soft Drinks31
- Orange Juice18
- Energy Drink14
Often appears alongside
Additives most frequently found in the same ingredient lists as E242 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 E242
- What is E242?
- E242 is the E-number for Dimethyl dicarbonate, a preservative — used to extend shelf life by slowing spoilage from microbes. DIMETHYL DICARBONATE is an organic compound which is a colorless liquid with a pungent odor at high concentration at room temperature.
- What is E242 used for?
- Dimethyl dicarbonate (E242) 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 E242?
- E242 appears in 627 of the 4.9 million products in Forkin's catalogue — most often in Flavored Water, Electrolyte / Sports Drink, and Wine. Scan any barcode with the Forkin app to see instantly whether a specific product contains it.
- Is E242 vegan or vegetarian?
- Dimethyl dicarbonate (E242) is typically produced from plant, mineral, or synthetic sources, so it is generally suitable for vegans and vegetarians. The Forkin app shows product-specific vegan and vegetarian signals where available, based on ingredient and label data, since the source can vary between manufacturers.
- Is E242 safe, and is it banned anywhere?
- E242 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 E242 — 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.