Potassium propionate

E number E283INS 283CAS 327-62-8

Listed as a preservative by Codex.

Listed as preservatives (Codex)
Chemical structure of Potassium propionate, from PubChem compound 23663619
Structure from PubChem CID 23663619 (National Library of Medicine, public domain). A depiction of one compound: where a listing covers a family, or a substance has no single structure, this page shows none.

Potassium propionate is a mould inhibitor used in baked goods where sodium is being reduced.

Where it is and isn’t permitted

Status of Potassium propionate by jurisdiction. Every jurisdiction this site covers is listed, including those where the substance does not appear.
JurisdictionStatusScope and limitsCitation
Australia and New ZealandFood Standards Australia New ZealandPermitted, with conditions

4 food categories

highest permitted level 4,000 mg/kg

Show every food category
  • 6.4 Flour products (including noodles and pasta) — 2,000 mg/kg
  • 7 Breads and bakery products — 4,000 mg/kg
  • 8.2 Processed meat, poultry and game products in whole cuts or pieces — GMP
  • 8.3 Processed comminuted meat, poultry and game products, other than products listed in item 8.3.2 — GMP
Food Standards Code, Schedule 15, S15—5and 3 further provisionsretrieved 2026-10-17
CanadaHealth CanadaNo listing matchedHealth Canada’s lists name additives without E or INS numbers, so this site matches them by exact name. A substance listed there under a name this site does not recognise has no row here.
European UnionEuropean Commission / EFSAPermitted, with conditions

6 food categories

highest permitted level 3,000 mg/kg

Show every food category
  • 1.7.2 ripened cheese — quantum satisPermitted as a member of Propionic acid - propionates. quantum satis. surface treatment only.
  • 1.7.6 cheese products (excluding products falling in category 16) — quantum satisPermitted as a member of Propionic acid - propionates. quantum satis. only ripened products surface treatment.
  • 1.8 Dairy analogues, including beverage whiteners — quantum satisPermitted as a member of Propionic acid - propionates. quantum satis. only cheese analogues (surface treatment only).
  • 16 Desserts excluding products covered in category 1 3 and 4 — 1,000 mg/kgPermitted as a member of Propionic acid - propionates. ML = 1000 mg/kg. only Christmas pudding. Note 1: The additives may be added individually or in combination.
  • 7.1 Bread and rolls — 3,000 mg/kgPermitted as a member of Propionic acid - propionates. ML = 3000 mg/kg. only prepacked sliced bread and rye bread. Note 1: The additives may be added individually or in combination.
  • 7.2 Fine bakery wares — 2,000 mg/kgPermitted as a member of Propionic acid - propionates. ML = 2000 mg/kg. only prepacked fine bakery wares, (including flour confectionery) with a water activity of more than 0,65. Note 1: The additives may be added individually or in combination.
Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex IIand 5 further provisionsretrieved 2026-10-18
Great BritainFood Standards Agency / Food Standards ScotlandPermitted, with conditions

6 food categories

highest permitted level 2,000 mg/kg or mg/l

Show every food category
  • 1.7.2 Ripened cheese — quantum satisPermitted as a member of E 280–283: Propionic acid — propionates. quantum satis. surface treatment only.
  • 1.7.6 Cheese products (excluding products falling in category 16) — quantum satisPermitted as a member of E 280–283: Propionic acid — propionates. quantum satis. only ripened products surface treatment.
  • 1.8 Dairy analogues, including beverage whiteners — quantum satisPermitted as a member of E 280–283: Propionic acid — propionates. quantum satis. only cheese analogues (surface treatment only).
  • 16 Desserts excluding products covered in categories 1, 3 and 4 — 1,000 mg/kg or mg/lPermitted as a member of E 280–283: Propionic acid — propionates. ML = 1000. only Christmas pudding. Note (1): The additives may be added individually or in combination. Note (6): Propionic acid and its salts may be present in certain fermented products resulting from the fermentation process following good manufacturing practice.
  • 7.1 Bread and rolls — several limitsPermitted as a member of E 280–283: Propionic acid — propionates. (1) ML 3000: only prepacked sliced bread and rye bread; (2) ML 2000: only energy-reduced bread; partially baked prepacked bread; prepacked rolls, tortilla and pitta; prepacked pølsebrød , boller and dansk flutes; (3) ML 1000: only prepacked bread. Note (1): The additives may be added individually or in combination. Note (6): Propionic acid and its salts may be present in certain fermented products resulting from the fermentation process following good manufacturing practice.
  • 7.2 Fine bakery wares — 2,000 mg/kg or mg/lPermitted as a member of E 280–283: Propionic acid — propionates. ML = 2000. only prepacked fine bakery wares, (including flour confectionery) with a water activity of more than 0,65. Note (1): The additives may be added individually or in combination. Note (6): Propionic acid and its salts may be present in certain fermented products resulting from the fermentation process following good manufacturing practice.
Assimilated Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II (as at 28 June 2024)and 5 further provisionsretrieved 2026-10-18
JapanConsumer Affairs AgencyNo listing matchedThis site imports only Japan’s list of designated additives (Appended Table 1 to the Regulations for Enforcement of the Food Sanitation Act), matched by English name. Existing additives, natural flavouring agents and ordinary foods used as additives are permitted outside that list and are not imported, so an empty row does not show that Japan does not permit the substance.
South KoreaMinistry of Food and Drug SafetyNo listing matchedThis site imports Part III of South Korea’s Standards and Specifications for Food Additives, matched by CAS number, then INS number, then exact name. Mixed preparations and sanitisers are not imported, and an entry whose identifiers disagreed with a page’s is held for review, so an empty row does not show that South Korea does not permit the substance.
United StatesFood and Drug AdministrationNot listedDoes not appear on this jurisdiction’s permitted list. That is not the same as being prohibited.
Codex AlimentariusCodex Alimentarius Commission / JECFAPermitted

no numerical limit (good manufacturing practice)

CXS 192-1995 Table Three, INS 283retrieved 2026-09-07

How much is permitted

A listing usually limits the quantity as well as the food. Only one of the forms that takes is a figure: quantum satis and good manufacturing practice permit the amount the technological effect requires and no more, which is a limit rather than the absence of one. Figures below are the range across every food category this page is listed in, and categories differ between regulators — see how much is permitted.

Australia and New Zealand2,000 mg/kg – 4,000 mg/kg2 numeric limit, 2 GMP
European Union1,000 mg/kg – 3,000 mg/kg3 numeric limit, 3 quantum satis
Great Britain1,000 mg/kg – 2,000 mg/kg2 numeric limit, 1 several limits, 3 quantum satis
Codex Alimentarius—1 GMP

What it is made from

Made by neutralising propionic acid with a potassium base.

  • Vegan
  • Vegetarian

Compare other additives on the dietary indexes.

CAS registry number
327-62-8
InChIKey
BWILYWWHXDGKQA-UHFFFAOYSA-M
PubChem
CID 23663619

The two specifications, compared

The European Union sets identity and purity by regulation; JECFA publishes its own through FAO, advisory until a country adopts it. Both documents are below in full. These are the parameters each puts a number on.

ParameterEuropean UnionJECFA
Assayno less than 99 %no less than 99 %
Loss on dryingno more than 4 %no more than 4 %
Leadno more than 5 mg/kgno more than 5 mg/kg
Arsenicno more than 3 mg/kg—
Mercuryno more than 1 mg/kg—

The two documents state the same figures for every parameter compared here.

How the EU defines it

The legal specification an additive must meet to be sold as this E number in the EU — what it is, how it may be made, and the purity it must reach. From Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012.

E 283 Potassium propionate

Assay, identification and purity criteria

Description and assay

Einecs
206-323-5
Chemical name
Potassium propionate; Potassium propanoate
Chemical formula
C₃H₅KO₂
Molecular weight
112,17
Assay
Content not less than 99 % after drying for two hours at 105 °C
Description
White crystalline powder

Identification

Test for propionate
Passes test
Test for potassium
Passes test

Purity criteria

Loss on drying
Not more than 4 % (105 °C, 2 hours)
Water insoluble matter
Not more than 0,1 %
Iron
Not more than 30 mg/kg
Fluoride
Not more than 10 mg/kg
Arsenic
Not more than 3 mg/kg
Lead
Not more than 5 mg/kg
Mercury
Not more than 1 mg/kg

Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012, Annex, E 283

How JECFA defines it

The international specification for identity and purity, prepared by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives and published by FAO. It is a different document from any above, written by a different body and revised on its own cycle; it is advisory, and a country adopts it or does not.

INS 283 Potassium Propionate

Synonyms: Potassium propanoate, INS No. 283 Potassium propanoate

Assay, identification and purity criteria

Description and assay

Specification history
Prepared at the 49th JECFA (1997) , published in FNP 52 Add 5 (1997) superseding specifications prepared at the 44th JECFA (1995), published in FNP 52 Add 3 (1995). An ADI not limited' was established at the 17th JECFA (1973)
Chemical name
Potassium propionate
C.A.S. number
327-62-8
Chemical formula
C 3 H 5 KO 2
Formula weight
112.17
Assay
Not less than 99.0 % on the dried basis
DESCRIPTION
White or colourless crystals
FUNCTIONAL USES
Preservative, antimould and antirope agent
METHOD OF ASSAY
h into a distillation flask and add 200 ml of 50% phosphoric acid. Boil for 2 h and collect the distillate. During distillation keep the volume in the flask at about 200 ml by adding water using dropping funnel. Titrate the distillate with 1N sodium hydroxide using phenolphthalein TS as indicator. Each ml of 1N sodium hydroxide corresponds to 112.17 mg of C 3 H 5 KO 2 .

Identification

Solubility (Vol. 4)
Freely soluble in water, soluble in ethanol
Positive test for potassium (Vol. 4)
Passes test
Positive test for propionate
Warm the sample with sulfuric acid. The propionic acid evolved may be recognized by its odour.
Positive test for alkali salt of organic acid
Ignite the sample at a relatively low temperature. The alkaline residue effervesces with acid.

Purity criteria

Loss on drying (Vol. 4)
Not more than 4% (105 o , 2 h)
pH (Vol. 4)
7.5 - 10.5 ( 1 in 10 soln)
Water-insoluble matter
Not more than 0.1 % Weigh 5 g of the sample to the nearest mg, transfer into a 100-ml beaker and add 50 ml of water. Stir until all the sample appears to be completely dissolved. Filter through a Gooch crucible, tared to an accuracy of ± 0.2 mg. Rinse the beaker with 20 ml of water. Dry the crucible with its contents in a 60° oven to constant weight. Cool in a desiccator, weigh, and calculate as percentage.
Iron (Vol. 4)
Not more than 30 mg/kg Test 0.5 g of the sample as described in the Limit Test using 1.5 ml of Iron Standard Solution (15 μg), in the control.
Lead (Vol. 4)
Not more than 5 mg/kg Determine using an atomic absorption technique appropriate to the specified level. The selection of sample size and method of sample preparation may be based on the principles of the method described in Volume 4, “Instrumental Methods.” Weigh, to the nearest mg, 3 g of the sample previously dried at 105 o for 2

FAO JECFA Monograph 1 (2006)

Every name it appears under

33 recorded names. A label may use any of them.

E number

  • E283

CAS registry number

  • 327-62-8

As it appears in regulation

  • Potassium propionate

Other names

  • 7H1F04CKTX
  • E 283
  • INS NO. 283
  • INS-283
  • Potassium propanoate
  • Potassium propionate
  • Potassium propionate, AldrichCPR
  • Propanoic acid, potassium salt
  • Propionic Acid Potassium Salt
  • PROPIONICACIDPOTASSIUMSALT

Systematic names

  • potassium;propanoate

Hazard reference values

Values set by assessing bodies. A body that has not set a value is not listed here.
TypeValuePopulationAssessed byOpinion
ADInot limited—JECFA1973

Evidence and how bodies read it

What assessing bodies concluded

Each conclusion is paraphrased in the body's own framing, from the published opinion linked beneath it. Where bodies differ, both stand; this site does not adjudicate between them or add a view of its own.

  1. EFSA 2014

    The ANS Panel found no concern for genotoxicity or carcinogenicity for propionic acid and its salts (E 280–E 283), but concluded the database did not allow an ADI to be allocated. It concluded there would not be a safety concern from the maximum concentrations at the currently authorised uses and use levels.

    Source document

Common questions

Assembled from what is above, in the words the questions are usually asked in. Each answer is the same statement the relevant section makes, with the same citations behind it.

What is E 283?
E 283 is Potassium propionate. Potassium propionate is a mould inhibitor used in baked goods where sodium is being reduced.
What is Potassium propionate used for in food?
It is listed as a preservative — the role Codex assigns it. This page shows every function each regulator records, with the citation for each.
Where is Potassium propionate permitted?
Of the seven regulators this site reads, Australia and New Zealand, the EU, Great Britain and the Codex standard permit it. Each permission is for named foods at named levels, not a blanket one; the table on this page gives them with citations.
Is Potassium propionate vegan?
Yes. Potassium propionate is not derived from animals, and is suitable for vegetarians. This page says what it is made from and how.

Sources for this page

  • anz retrieved 2026-10-17
  • eu retrieved 2026-10-18
  • gb retrieved 2026-10-18
  • gsfa retrieved 2026-09-07
  • euspecs retrieved 2026-10-18
  • jecfaspecs retrieved 2026-09-23

Full licence terms and publisher details on Sources. How this page is built and updated: Method.

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