Additive · Preservative

E242 — Dimethyl dicarbonate · page 2

E242 (Dimethyl dicarbonate) appears in the ingredient lists of 61 products sold in the United Kingdom. Function: preservative.

61products with a complete record
11%rated A or B on Nutri-Score
0.30 gsugars per 100 g (median)
0.01 gsalt per 100 g (median)

Nutri-Score

How rated products spread
A 0%B 11%C 73%D 11%E 4%

45 rated products

Median values

Per 100 g, across all 61 products
Energy4 kcal
Sugars0.30 g
Saturates0.02 g
Salt0.01 g

Status in the United States (FDA)

Listed in the FDA inventory “Substances Added to Food”, with the regulations 21 CFR 172.133.

Technical effects listed by the FDA: antimicrobial agent

The inventory is a partial list, and a listing is not an FDA approval of every use; the regulations set the permitted uses.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Substances Added to Food (updated 9/8/2026), public domain · CAS 4525-33-1 via Wikidata (CC0)