Propionic Acid
Function: Preservative
E280 is the European food-additive number for Propionic Acid, a preservative — used to extend shelf life by slowing spoilage from microbes. Propionic Acid (E280) is a preservative used as a food additive.
What is E280 used for?
Propionic Acid (E280) 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 E280 safe or restricted?
E280 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 regulatory flags” 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 E280 vegan or vegetarian?
Propionic Acid (E280) 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 E280?
E280 appears in 1,791 of the 4.6 million products in Forkin's catalogue — most often in white bread, tortilla / wrap and pastry.
- White Bread198
- Tortilla / Wrap176
- Pastry90
- Bread Rolls / Buns90
- Sandwiches79
- Brioche56
- Croissant47
- Sweet Breads40
Often appears alongside
Additives most frequently found in the same ingredient lists as E280 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 E280
- What is E280?
- E280 is the E-number for Propionic Acid, a preservative — used to extend shelf life by slowing spoilage from microbes. Propionic Acid (E280) is a preservative used as a food additive.
- What is E280 used for?
- Propionic Acid (E280) 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 E280?
- E280 appears in 1,791 of the 4.6 million products in Forkin's catalogue — most often in white bread, tortilla / wrap and pastry. Scan any barcode with the Forkin app to see instantly whether a specific product contains it.
- Is E280 vegan or vegetarian?
- Propionic Acid (E280) 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 E280 safe, and is it banned anywhere?
- E280 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 regulatory flags" 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 E280 — acceptable daily intake (ADI), restrictions by country, vegan/vegetarian status, alternative names, and which products in your scan history contain it. See how Forkin compares to other scanners or view pricing.