Calcium propionate (E282) in food: ingestion safety
Low risk(People-specific data is limited; this page draws from human adult context.) Calcium propionate (E282) presents low risk to human adults. FDA GRAS; EFSA group ADI 3 mg propionic acid equivalents/kg/day (2014); typical dietary intake from bread is within the ADI. Propionic acid is a naturally occurring short-chain fatty acid in Swiss cheese and gut microbiota fermentation. No carcinogenicity classification. The autism-propionate controversy arose from intracerebroventricular brain injection studies in rats — physiologically irrelevant to oral dietary exposure; FDA and EFSA do not support this extrapolation.
What is calcium propionate (e282)?
The IUPAC name is calcium propanoate.
Also known as: calcium propanoate, CALCIUM PROPIONATE, Propanoic acid, calcium salt, Bioban-C.
- IUPAC name
- calcium propanoate
- CAS number
- 4075-81-4
- Molecular formula
- C6H10CaO4
- Molecular weight
- 186.22 g/mol
- SMILES
- CCC(=O)[O-].CCC(=O)[O-].[Ca+2]
- PubChem CID
- 19999
Risk for people
Low riskCalcium propionate (E282) presents low risk to human adults. FDA GRAS; EFSA group ADI 3 mg propionic acid equivalents/kg/day (2014); typical dietary intake from bread is within the ADI. Propionic acid is a naturally occurring short-chain fatty acid in Swiss cheese and gut microbiota fermentation. No carcinogenicity classification. The autism-propionate controversy arose from intracerebroventricular brain injection studies in rats — physiologically irrelevant to oral dietary exposure; FDA and EFSA do not support this extrapolation.
Regulatory consensus
3 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Calcium propionate (E282). The classifications differ — that's the data.
| Agency | Year | Classification | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| IARC | 2014 | Not evaluated by IARC for carcinogenicity — Calcium propionate (E282; CAS 4075-81-4; calcium dipropanoate; Ca(C2H5COO)2; the calcium salt of propionic acid) is a mold-inhibiting preservative used primarily in bread and bakery products; FDA GRAS (21 CFR 184.1221); EU E282 (maximum levels apply in bread, flour confectionery, pre-packaged bread); EFSA group ADI 3 mg/kg/day for propionic acid and its calcium, sodium, and potassium salts (E280–E283 as propionic acid equivalents, 2014 re-evaluation); no IARC, EPA, or EFSA carcinogenicity classification; propionic acid is a naturally occurring short-chain fatty acid produced by intestinal microbiota fermentation and present in Swiss/Emmental cheese, rye bread, and fermented foods; the controversy around calcium propionate centers on rodent brain injection studies linking propionic acid to autism-like behaviors and some epidemiological advocacy literature — EFSA and FDA have evaluated this controversy and do not support the inference that dietary calcium propionate from food causes behavioral effects in children at current exposure levels | |
| EPA CTX / Genetox | — | Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 12 positive / 2 negative reports) | |
| EPA CTX / Genetox | — | Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 12 positive / 2 negative reports) |
Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.
Where you encounter calcium propionate (e282)
- Industrial Facilities — Manufacturing plants, Chemical storage areas, Waste treatment sites
- Occupational Environments — Factories, Warehouses, Transportation vehicles
- Food — processed food, beverages, candy, baked goods
Safer alternatives
Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Calcium propionate (E282):
-
Physical/mechanical pest control (IPM)
Trade-offs: More labor-intensive. May not be sufficient for severe infestations.Relative cost: 1.2-2×
Frequently asked questions
What products contain calcium propionate (e282)?
Calcium propionate (E282) appears in: Manufacturing plants (Industrial facilities); Chemical storage areas (Industrial facilities); Factories (Occupational environments); Warehouses (Occupational environments); processed food (Food).
Why do regulators disagree about calcium propionate (e282)?
Calcium propionate (E282) has been classified by 3 agencies including IARC, EPA CTX / Genetox, EPA CTX / Genetox, with differing conclusions. Regulators apply different standards of evidence (animal data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds), which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. See the regulatory consensus table on this page for the full picture.
See Calcium propionate (E282) in the food app
Look up products containing calcium propionate (e282), compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.
Open in food View raw API dataSources (1)
- Calcium Propionate E282 CAS 4075-81-4 Ca(C2H5COO)2 E280-E283 Group ADI 3 mg/kg Propionic Acid Equivalents; EFSA 2014 Re-Evaluation; FDA GRAS 21 CFR 184.1221; Bread Mold Inhibitor Aspergillus Penicillium 0.3-0.4% Flour; Shelf Life 14-21 Days; Swiss Cheese 1-2% Propionate Propionibacterium Shermanii; Gut Microbiota SCFA Portal Vein 3-4 µM; Autism Controversy MacFabe 2011 2012 Intracerebroventricular Rat Injection Irrelevant to Dietary Oral Exposure; EFSA FDA No Behavioral Safety Concern Dietary Exposure; Sourdough Natural Fermentation MAP Ethanol Vapor Alternative Clean Label; Dairy Cattle Ketosis Prevention Gluconeogenic Precursor (2014) — regulatory
Reference data, not professional advice. Aggregates publicly available regulatory and scientific data; not a substitute for veterinary, medical, legal, or regulatory advice. Why we built ALETHEIA →