Natural Preservatives Guide
Natural vs synthetic preservatives ranked by safety. 60 additives listed.
Common preservative
Sodium salt of sorbic acid preservative
Widely used preservative
Calcium salt of sorbic acid
Paraben preservative. Delisted in EU
Preservative for acidic foods
Common preservative. Can form benzene with vitamin C
Preservative
Preservative
Paraben preservative
Paraben preservative
Banned in EU for food use since 2006. Still used in US cosmetics
Banned in EU. Paraben concerns
Paraben preservative
Paraben preservative
Preservative for wine, dried fruits. Allergen
Sulphite preservative. Allergen
Sulphite. Allergen
Sulphite. Allergen
Sulphite. Allergen
Sulphite preservative. Allergen
Crystal form of potassium sulphite. Sulphite allergen
Sulphite. Allergen
Sulphite. Allergen
Sulphite. Allergen
Citrus fruit fungicide. Removed from EU approved list in 2005
Citrus peel fungicide. Removed from EU food additives list
Sodium salt of OPP. Removed from EU list
Fungicide for citrus/banana skins. Now classified as pesticide, not food additive
Natural antimicrobial from bacteria
Antifungal for cheese
Antibacterial. Delisted as food additive in EU
Delisted in EU as food additive
Delisted in EU as food additive
Provolone cheese only
Highly toxic. Banned worldwide as food additive. Known carcinogen (IARC Group 1)
Cold sterilization for beverages
Cured meat preservative. Concerns about nitrosamines
Cured meat preservative. Concerns about nitrosamines
Cured meat preservative
Cured meat preservative
Vinegar. Natural preservative
Acidity regulator
Preservative and flavoring
Preservative
Acidity regulator
Preservative not approved for food in EU. Used in cosmetics
Not approved in EU for food use
Natural acid. Widely used
Bread mold inhibitor
Bread preservative
Preservative and flavoring agent
Common bread preservative
Bread preservative
Caviar only
Caviar only. Banned in US for food
Borax variant. Caviar only
Carbonation gas
Natural fruit acid
Acidity regulator