Acetic acid
Function: Preservative
E260 is the European food-additive number for Acetic acid, a preservative — used to extend shelf life by slowing spoilage from microbes. ACETIC ACID, systematically named ethanoic acid, is a colourless liquid organic compound with the chemical formula CH3COOH -also written as CH3CO2H or C2H4O2-.
What is E260 used for?
Acetic acid (E260) 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 E260 safe or restricted?
E260 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 E260 vegan or vegetarian?
Acetic acid (E260) 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 E260?
E260 appears in 5,460 of the 4.7 million products in Forkin's catalogue — most often in hot sauce, pickled cucumbers / gherkins and sandwiches.
- Hot Sauce281
- Pickled Cucumbers / Gherkins279
- Sandwiches130
- Sweet Chili Sauce115
- Coleslaw & Deli Salads101
- Mayonnaise95
- Shrimp / Prawns90
- Ketchup81
Often appears alongside
Additives most frequently found in the same ingredient lists as E260 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 E260
- What is E260?
- E260 is the E-number for Acetic acid, a preservative — used to extend shelf life by slowing spoilage from microbes. ACETIC ACID, systematically named ethanoic acid, is a colourless liquid organic compound with the chemical formula CH3COOH -also written as CH3CO2H or C2H4O2-.
- What is E260 used for?
- Acetic acid (E260) 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 E260?
- E260 appears in 5,460 of the 4.7 million products in Forkin's catalogue — most often in hot sauce, pickled cucumbers / gherkins and sandwiches. Scan any barcode with the Forkin app to see instantly whether a specific product contains it.
- Is E260 vegan or vegetarian?
- Acetic acid (E260) 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 E260 safe, and is it banned anywhere?
- E260 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 E260 — acceptable daily intake (ADI), restrictions by country, vegan/vegetarian status, alternative names, and which products in your scan history contain it. See view pricing.