E282: Calcium Propionate
Main role: mold control
Also listed as: calcium propanoate
What is E282 (Calcium Propionate)?
Calcium propionate E282 is a mold-control preservative often encountered on packaged bread labels. It supplies propionate in a calcium salt form and can help extend the useful life of a bakery product. Its role is preservation rather than a guaranteed calcium-fortification benefit.
What does it do in food?
Its main role is mold control. Preservation is one part of a food safety system. Recipe acidity, processing, packaging, and storage also affect how a product keeps. Follow the finished product’s storage instructions even when a preservative is listed.
Food and formulation examples
- Packaged bread
- Selected bakery products
- Specified cheese applications
These examples describe formulation roles, not a list of unrestricted legal uses. Availability and permitted applications differ by country and food category.
Label names and ingredient questions
Look for E282, E 282, or the ingredient name. Related names and label terms include calcium propanoate. A family code can cover more than one specified form; check the full declaration when the distinction matters.
A bread containing E282 still needs normal storage and expiry-date checks. If you prefer a shorter ingredient list, compare equivalent breads while also considering fiber, salt, and shelf life.
Is E282 safe?
The EFSA propionates re-evaluation (2014) is a scientific reference for this group. Its conclusions apply to the uses and exposures considered in that assessment, rather than every possible use or personal circumstance.
A label identifies the ingredient but usually not its concentration. Calculating daily intake requires the amount in the food and the quantities eaten.
Authorization and conditions of use
The Great Britain food additive register lists E282 as Calcium propionate. This is an entry subject to its stated conditions, not unrestricted permission for every food. The record links to the applicable authorization terms. For an EU product, use the European Commission food additive database to check the relevant food category and limits. Other countries may use different names or rules.