Boric acid
Function: Preservatives
E284 is the European food-additive number for Boric acid, a preservative — used to extend shelf life by slowing spoilage from microbes. Boric acid (E284) is a food additive used as a food additive.
What is E284 used for?
Boric acid (E284) 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 E284 safe or restricted?
E284 is approved for use in the EU but has drawn regulatory attention — its conditions of use or acceptable daily intake have been re-examined by EFSA or equivalent bodies. Forkin classifies it as “Some 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 E284 vegan or vegetarian?
Boric acid (E284) 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 E284?
E284 appears in 46 of the 4.7 million products in Forkin's catalogue — most often in Multivitamin, Pastry, and Feminine Hygiene.
- Multivitamin6
- Pastry3
- Feminine Hygiene3
- Zinc2
- Dietary Supplements2
- Prepared Salads2
- Still Water1
- Sandwiches1
Often appears alongside
Additives most frequently found in the same ingredient lists as E284 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 E284
- What is E284?
- E284 is the E-number for Boric acid, a preservative — used to extend shelf life by slowing spoilage from microbes. Boric acid (E284) is a food additive used as a food additive.
- What is E284 used for?
- Boric acid (E284) 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 E284?
- E284 appears in 46 of the 4.7 million products in Forkin's catalogue — most often in Multivitamin, Pastry, and Feminine Hygiene. Scan any barcode with the Forkin app to see instantly whether a specific product contains it.
- Is E284 vegan or vegetarian?
- Boric acid (E284) 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 E284 safe, and is it banned anywhere?
- E284 is approved for use in the EU but has drawn regulatory attention — its conditions of use or acceptable daily intake have been re-examined by EFSA or equivalent bodies. Forkin classifies it as ‘Some 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 E284 — 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.