Sodium propionate

E number E281INS 281CAS 137-40-6

Used as a preservative.

Sodium propionate is a mould inhibitor used in baked goods, processed cheese and some beverages.

Where it is and isn’t permitted

Status of Sodium propionate by jurisdiction. Every jurisdiction this site covers is listed, including those where the substance does not appear.
JurisdictionStatusScope and limitsCitation
United StatesFood and Drug AdministrationPermitted21 CFR 184.1784retrieved 2026-09-07
Codex AlimentariusCodex Alimentarius Commission / JECFAPermitted, with conditions

2 food categories

highest permitted level 3,000 mg/kg

Show every food category
  • 01.6.2.1 Ripened cheese, includes rind — GMP
  • 01.6.6 Whey protein cheese — 3,000 mg/kg
CXS 192-1995 Table Three, INS 281and 2 further provisionsretrieved 2026-09-07

What it is made from

Made by neutralising propionic acid with sodium.

  • Vegan
  • Vegetarian
CAS registry number
137-40-6
InChIKey
JXKPEJDQGNYQSM-UHFFFAOYSA-M
PubChem
CID 2723816

Every name it appears under

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

E number

  • E281

INS number

  • 281

CAS registry number

  • 137-40-6
  • 63785-15-9
  • 6700-17-0

As it appears in regulation

  • Sodium propionate

Other names

  • ANHYDROUS SODIUM PROPIONATE [MART.]
  • Bioban-S
  • C3H5NaO2
  • CAS-137-40-6
  • Caswell No. 707A
  • CCRIS 1896
  • Deketon
  • E 281
  • EPA Pesticide Chemical Code 077703
  • HSDB 766
  • Impedex
  • INS NO.281
  • INS-281
  • Keenate
  • Mycoban
  • Mycoban; Napropion; Ocuseptine
  • Napropion
  • Natriumpropionat
  • Natriumpropionat [veterinary] (TN)
  • Ocuseptine
  • Propanoic acid, sodium salt
  • Propanoic acid, sodium salt (1:1)
  • Propanoic acid, sodium salt (2:1)
  • Propanoic Acid, Sodium Salt, Hydrate
  • Propi-ophtal
  • Propiofar
  • Propion
  • Propionan sodny
  • Propionic acid sodium
  • Propionic acid sodium salt
  • Propisol
  • Sodium hydrogen dipropionate
  • Sodium propano
  • Sodium propanoate
  • Sodium propionate
  • Sodium propionate anhydrous
  • Sodium Propionate Hydrate
  • SODIUM PROPIONATE-2,3-13C2, 99 ATOM % 13 C
  • Sodium propionate; Sodium propanoate; Propionic acid sodium salt
  • SODIUMPROPIONATE
  • Whit-pro

Systematic names

  • Sodium propanoate

Hazard reference values

No reference value for this substance in the sources we hold.

Evidence and how bodies read it

Studies, and the differing conclusions regulators drew from them, are curated by hand rather than machine-read, and none has been written for this substance yet.

Sources for this page

  • ecfr retrieved 2026-09-07
  • gsfa retrieved 2026-09-07

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

Machine-readable:/api/v1/additives/sodium-propionate.json