Calcium Benzoate
Function: Preservative
E213 is the European food-additive number for Calcium Benzoate, a preservative — used to extend shelf life by slowing spoilage from microbes. Calcium Benzoate (E213) is a preservative used as a food additive.
What is E213 used for?
Calcium Benzoate (E213) 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 E213 safe or restricted?
E213 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 E213 vegan or vegetarian?
Calcium Benzoate (E213) 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 E213?
E213 appears in 3 of the 4.7 million products in Forkin's catalogue — most often in sugar-free sweeteners and mayonnaise.
- Sugar-Free Sweeteners1
- Mayonnaise1
Often appears alongside
Additives most frequently found in the same ingredient lists as E213 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 E213
- What is E213?
- E213 is the E-number for Calcium Benzoate, a preservative — used to extend shelf life by slowing spoilage from microbes. Calcium Benzoate (E213) is a preservative used as a food additive.
- What is E213 used for?
- Calcium Benzoate (E213) 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 E213?
- E213 appears in 3 of the 4.7 million products in Forkin's catalogue — most often in sugar-free sweeteners and mayonnaise. Scan any barcode with the Forkin app to see instantly whether a specific product contains it.
- Is E213 vegan or vegetarian?
- Calcium Benzoate (E213) 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 E213 safe, and is it banned anywhere?
- E213 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 E213 — acceptable daily intake (ADI), restrictions by country, vegan/vegetarian status, alternative names, and which products in your scan history contain it. See view pricing.