E281 — Sodium propionate
E281 (Sodium propionate) appears in the ingredient lists of 2,522 products sold in the United States. Function: preservative.
Nutri-Score
2,299 rated products
Median values
| Calories | 376 kcal |
| Sugars | 27.4 g |
| Saturated fat | 6.1 g |
| Salt | 0.83 g |
Categories
- Cakes1,090
- Biscuits240
- Pastries206
- Prepared meats108
- Breads73
- Sandwiches62
- Meals33
- Frozen foods32
Status in the United States (FDA)
Listed in the FDA inventory “Substances Added to Food”, with the regulations 21 CFR 180.23, 184.1784.
Technical effects listed by the FDA: antimicrobial agent, flavoring agent or adjuvant
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 137-40-6 via Wikidata (CC0)
Products containing it, by country
Products listing this additive in each country edition of Shelfpedia (Open Food Facts data)
Products
2,522 products, most viewed first · page 1 of 53.
Source: Open Food Facts export of 23 October 2026, ODbL, and USDA FoodData Central, April 2026 release, CC0 · Shelfpedia calculations (medians, distributions).