E280 (propionic acid) — What It Is, Foods Containing It, Safety Profile

E280 is the EU food-additive code for propionic acid (CAS 79-09-4). It functions in food as a food additive. This page indexes publicly-available regulatory and encyclopaedic data so consumers reading an ingredient label can quickly look up what they're seeing — and verify each fact at the linked primary source.

Sources: EFSA · Wikidata (Q422956) · Wikipedia · last fetched 2026-06-02

What E280 is

propionic acid is the substance assigned EU food-additive code E280. In the EU regulatory framework, E-numbers are codes for substances that have been evaluated for use as food additives (Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 on food additives, with the European Food Safety Authority performing safety re-evaluations). The same substance carries different identifiers in other jurisdictions — for example, the US FDA refers to substances by their chemical name and CAS number in its Food Substances database; Codex Alimentarius uses INS (International Numbering System) numbers which usually match EU E-numbers.

• CAS Registry Number: 79-09-4
• Molecular formula: C₃H₆O₂

What it does in food

Records list E280 only under the generic category 'food additive' without a more specific functional class. For its specific permitted uses in food categories, consult the EU food-additive database.

Looking it up on a label

On EU food labels E280 may appear as the E-code, as the plain name propionic acid, or by a synonym — all three are legally equivalent under EU labelling rules (Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on food information to consumers). The CAS number 79-09-4 uniquely identifies the substance in chemical databases, including the US FDA Substances Added to Food inventory.

Where you'll find it

Examples of products in our index whose declared ingredient list contains E280 or propionic acid. Click through for the full label and any safety flags we've cross-referenced against EU and US regulator databases:

• Bakers Best, White Bread — Wise Woodworks
• michoacana flour tortillas
• kordas' french bread
• old mill
• White corn, 6-inch taco style tortillas
• Wheat Brown & Serve Rolls — Ozark Empire Dist
• Bill Knapp's, Iced Toaster Bread, Cinnamon Raisin — Bake-A-Teria Inc.
• Kroger — White corn tortillas
• Chicken Enchiladas — Kroger
• Kroger yellow corn tortillas — The Kroger Co.

Typical food categories where E280 appears include those permitted under Annex II of Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 — the full per-category permission list is searchable in the EU food-additive database.

Regulatory status

• European Union: assigned E-number E280, which means the substance has been evaluated and listed under Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008. Specific permitted food categories and maximum levels are in Annex II of the same regulation. Re-evaluations are published in the EFSA Journal.
• United States: the FDA does not use E-numbers; the substance status (GRAS, food additive petition, prior-sanctioned, colour additive) can be checked in the Substances Added to Food database by name or CAS.
• Codex Alimentarius (international): uses INS numbers which usually match EU E-numbers. Codex GSFA (General Standard for Food Additives) at fao.org/gsfaonline.

Safety review history

EFSA's Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings (FAF) — and its predecessor, the ANS Panel — periodically re-evaluates approved food additives. To read the most recent published opinion on E280 (propionic acid), search the EFSA Journal. The opinion will state whether an Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) has been set, whether existing exposure estimates are within that ADI, and whether any restrictions or further data are recommended.

ProductGuru indexes publicly-published regulatory data. We do not summarise or paraphrase safety conclusions — please read the EFSA opinion directly, since regulatory language is precise and context-dependent.

If you have a food sensitivity or allergy

Whether E280 is appropriate in your personal diet depends on your specific medical situation — for example, certain colourings carry mandatory EU label warnings about possible effects on activity and attention in children (Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex V), some preservatives have been associated with reactions in sensitive individuals, and some additives are not suitable for specific dietary requirements. This page does not provide medical or dietary advice. Please talk to a registered dietitian or your doctor about specific dietary concerns or suspected reactions to a food additive. If you've had an acute allergic reaction, contact emergency care.

Verify these facts on the primary register

• Verify on EFSA →
• EU food-additive database (per-category permissions) →
• Wikidata entry (Q422956) →
• Wikipedia article →
• US FDA Substances Added to Food →
• Codex Alimentarius GSFA →

Disclaimer. This page indexes publicly-published food-additive data sourced from Wikidata (CC0), with regulatory deep-links to EFSA, the EU food-additive database, the US FDA, and Codex Alimentarius. This is NOT medical advice. Talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian about specific dietary concerns or allergies. We do not recommend any particular dietary action based on the information on this page — please verify each claim directly with the linked primary source before acting on it.