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E238 Calcium Formate – Preservative Food Additive

E238 (calcium formate) is an approved food additive used as a preservative. It inhibits the growth of moulds and bacteria and is primarily used in animal feed and certain food products.

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Things worth knowing about "E238"

E238 (calcium formate) is an approved food additive used as a preservative. It inhibits the growth of moulds and bacteria and is primarily used in animal feed and certain food products.

What is E238 (Calcium Formate)?

E238 refers to calcium formate, the calcium salt of formic acid. It is a synthetically produced food additive approved as a preservative in the European Union. Calcium formate appears as a white, crystalline powder and is readily soluble in water.

Uses and Applications

E238 is used for its antimicrobial properties to extend the shelf life of food and feed products. Within the EU, the use of calcium formate in food intended for human consumption is restricted to specific categories; its primary application is in the animal feed sector.

Preservation of animal feed (e.g., silage, compound feed)
Use as an acidulant and pH regulator in the food industry
Application in cheese production in certain countries
Industrial uses as a corrosion inhibitor and de-icing agent

Mechanism of Action

Calcium formate acts as a preservative by dissociating in an aqueous environment into calcium ions and formate ions (salts of formic acid). The released formic acid (methanoic acid) exerts an antimicrobial effect by inhibiting the growth of bacteria, yeasts, and moulds. This effect is based on lowering the pH level and directly disrupting microbial metabolic processes.

Safety and Toxicology

Calcium formate is metabolised by the human body and converted into carbon dioxide and water. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has classified E238 as safe when used within the established maximum permitted levels. Formate is a natural metabolic intermediate in the human body and occurs naturally in small amounts in various foods.

Considered safe when used as intended
No known relevant allergenic potential under intended use conditions
Very high amounts could theoretically be toxic, but such levels are not achievable through food consumption

Labelling and Regulation

In the European Union, E238 is regulated under Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 on food additives. When calcium formate is used in a food product, it must be listed in the ingredients either as E238 or as calcium formate. The EFSA regularly reviews the safety assessments of all approved additives.

References

European Food Safety Authority (EFSA): Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of calcium formate (E 238) as a food additive. EFSA Journal, 2015.
European Parliament and Council of the EU: Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 on food additives. Official Journal of the European Union, 2008.
World Health Organization (WHO) / FAO: Compendium of Food Additive Specifications - Calcium Formate. JECFA Monographs, Rome.

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