Benzoic Acid
Function: Preservative
E210 is the European food-additive number for Benzoic Acid, a preservative — used to extend shelf life by slowing spoilage from microbes. Benzoic Acid (E210) is a preservative used as a food additive.
What is E210 used for?
Benzoic Acid (E210) 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 E210 safe or restricted?
E210 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 “Regulatory attention” 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 E210 vegan or vegetarian?
Benzoic Acid (E210) 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 E210?
E210 appears in 1,382 of the 4.6 million products in Forkin's catalogue — most often in energy drink, tortilla / wrap and shrimp / prawns.
- Energy Drink361
- Tortilla / Wrap127
- Shrimp / Prawns74
- Cakes48
- Soda Water / Club Soda34
- Hummus20
- Sugar-Free Sweeteners16
- Pastry15
Often appears alongside
Additives most frequently found in the same ingredient lists as E210 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 E210
- What is E210?
- E210 is the E-number for Benzoic Acid, a preservative — used to extend shelf life by slowing spoilage from microbes. Benzoic Acid (E210) is a preservative used as a food additive.
- What is E210 used for?
- Benzoic Acid (E210) 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 E210?
- E210 appears in 1,382 of the 4.6 million products in Forkin's catalogue — most often in energy drink, tortilla / wrap and shrimp / prawns. Scan any barcode with the Forkin app to see instantly whether a specific product contains it.
- Is E210 vegan or vegetarian?
- Benzoic Acid (E210) 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 E210 safe, and is it banned anywhere?
- E210 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 "Regulatory attention" 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 E210 — 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.