Potassium sorbate (E202)

Potassium sorbate (E202) is not a marker of ultra-processing. It is one of the markers Open Food Facts uses to classify a food as processed (NOVA group 3).

What it is and why it counts

Preservatives are substances which prolong the shelf-life of foods by protecting them against deterioration caused by micro-organisms and/or which protect against growth of pathogenic micro-organisms.

Preservation and traditional processing

Preservatives, enzymes and cultures keep food safe or carry out traditional processes such as fermentation. Open Food Facts counts them as signs of processing (group 3), not ultra-processing.

Function

Preservative: Preservatives are substances which prolong the shelf-life of foods by protecting them against deterioration caused by micro-organisms and/or which protect against growth of pathogenic micro-organisms.

Functional class definitions from the EU food additives regulation, via Open Food Facts.

More about potassium sorbate (E202) on Wikidata

Where it turns up

Potassium sorbate (E202) appears in 2,003 of the 40,000 products on this site (5%).

Hummus 78 of 223 products
Wheat flatbreads 64 of 149 products
Salad dressings 59 of 252 products
Sodas 56 of 612 products
Cakes 49 of 377 products
Energy drinks 38 of 278 products

Products containing potassium sorbate (E202)

Showing the 60 most popular of 2,003.

How the NOVA classification works