Potassium Sorbate (E202) Product Guide — Powder & Granular Food-Grade Preservative

Product Overview

Potassium sorbate is one of the world's most widely used food-grade preservatives — the potassium salt of sorbic acid, a naturally occurring unsaturated fatty acid. Regarded as one of the safest food preservatives, it works by inhibiting the growth of molds, yeast and aerobic spoilage bacteria, and is most effective in acidic foods (pH 4–6).

FULLSAIL supplies food-grade potassium sorbate powder and food-grade potassium sorbate granules built for modern continuous production lines. Our granular potassium sorbate is our differentiated premium grade. With specialized granulation technology, it features excellent flowability and nearly zero dust emission during feeding and mixing processes. It greatly reduces dust inhalation and lowers the risk of respiratory irritation and dust allergy for factory operators, perfectly matching automatic feeding production lines. Potassium sorbate powder dissolves rapidly, ideal for formulations requiring fast dissolution. Customers can select the suitable form according to their manufacturing process.

Product Identity (CAS / E-Number / INS)

Parameter	Value
Chemical name	Potassium sorbate (trans,trans-2,4-hexadienoic acid potassium salt)
Chemical formula	C₆H₇KO₂
Molecular weight	150.22
CAS Number	24634-61-5
E-Number (EU)	E202
INS Number (International Numbering System)	202
CNS Number (China)	17.004
EINECS	246-376-1
Basis	EU Reg. (EC) 1333/2008 Annex II · JECFA GSFA

 Quality Standards: China / EU / USA

China Standard

• Specification: GB 1886.39-2015 National Food Safety Standard — Food Additive Potassium Sorbate

• Usage: GB 2760-2024 (maximum use levels expressed as sorbic acid)

EU Standard

• Specification: Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012, most recently tightened by (EU) 2024/2597 (applicable from 27 April 2025) with reduced toxic-element limits and a new zinc limit

• Usage: Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 Annex II (authorized under the sorbic acid–potassium sorbate group E 200-202)

• Current EU E202 key limits: loss on drying ≤1.0%; lead ≤0.1 mg/kg; arsenic ≤0.1 mg/kg; mercury ≤0.01 mg/kg; zinc ≤0.1 mg/kg; assay (dry basis) ≥99%; permitted as "white crystalline powder or granules"

US Standard

• FCC (Food Chemicals Codex): conforms to FCC specification for potassium sorbate

• Suitable for use as a compliant preservative under FDA 21 CFR for specified food categories

Requires CE / local-market documentation? FULLSAIL provides COA, MSDS, Halal, Kosher, Non-GMO and TSE/BSE certificates on request, plus country-specific specification sheets.

Product Advantages

Powder Form

• Fast dispersion; flexible, precise dosing for small batches and R&D trials

• White/off-white powder, high purity, stable color

• Fits liquid, slurry and powder formulations across industries

Granular Form (Key Differentiator)

• Virtually dust-free: minimal fugitive dust during handling and feeding

• Protects workers: reduces exposure to airborne dust, dust-related allergy and respiratory irritation — an OSHA-friendly workplace choice

• Less material loss: low spillage and wall adhesion for cleaner, more accurate metering

• Smoother production: excellent flowability, less bridging or caking, higher efficiency for automated filling and continuous dosing

• No compromise on performance: identical purity and antimicrobial activity to powder — only the physical form differs

Shared Advantages (Both Forms)

• Broad-spectrum inhibition of molds, yeast and aerobic spoilage bacteria

• Odorless or mild characteristic odor — minimal impact on product flavor

• Optimal activity in acidic systems (pH 4–6), ideal for most foods

• Metabolized as an unsaturated fatty acid — widely recognized as safe and highly accepted by regulators

• GMP production, batch-to-batch stability, full traceability

Specification & Content

Form	Specification
Powder	Assay (dry basis) 98.0%–101.0% as C₆H₇KO₂
Granular	Assay (dry basis) 98.0%–101.0% as C₆H₇KO₂; uniform particle size, good flow
Loss on drying	≤ 1.0%
Chlorides (as Cl)	≤ 0.018%
Sulfates (as SO₄)	≤ 0.038%
Aldehydes (as formaldehyde)	≤ 0.1%
Heavy metals (as Pb)	≤ 10.0 mg/kg
Arsenic (As)	≤ 3.0 mg/kg
Lead (Pb)	≤ 2.0 mg/kg

 Granular Grade Test Parameters (FCC Grade · E202 · PSG)

Item	Standard Parameter
Identification	Conforms to standard
Appearance	White granule
Assay (on dried basis)	≥ 99%
Heat stability	No change in colour (105 °C, 90 mins)
Melting range for sorbic acid	133 °C – 135 °C
Test for potassium	Passes test
Test for double bonds	Passes test
Loss on drying	≤ 1.0% (105 °C, 3 hours)
Acidity or alkalinity	≤ 1.0% (as sorbic acid or K₂CO₃)
Aldehydes	≤ 0.1% (as formaldehyde)
Arsenic	≤ 0.1 mg/kg
Lead	≤ 0.1 mg/kg
Mercury	≤ 0.01 mg/kg

 

Corresponding label: Potassium Sorbate Granular, FCC Grade, E202 (CAS 24634-61-5) — CE / FCC-grade specification sheet provided with shipment.

Main Application Areas

• Beverages: fruit juice, flavored drinks, carbonated soft drinks, dairy drinks, plant-based beverages

• Dairy: processed cheese, yogurt, dairy desserts, plant-based mousses (EU 2025/2060 authorizes E 200-202 up to 500 mg/kg in non-heat-treated plant-based mousses)

• Bakery & Confectionery: cakes, jams, jellies, sugared fruit, fillings

• Pickled & Seasoned Foods: pickled vegetables, soy products, compound sauces, dressings

• Meat & Aquatic Products: sausages, cured/smoked products, marinades, semi-finished goods

• Wine & Brewing: wine and fruit wine — suppressing secondary fermentation and yeast regrowth

• Cosmetics, Personal Care & Feed: preservation of finished formulations

Recommended Dosage

Typical use level for potassium sorbate: 0.02%–0.1% (i.e. 200–1000 mg/kg, equivalent to about 0.015%–0.075% expressed as sorbic acid). Final dosage must follow the target market's regulation (China GB 2760-2024, EU Reg. (EC) 1333/2008, US FDA 21 CFR) and be optimized against product pH, water activity, initial microbial load and challenge-test results.

Common reference points (as sorbic acid): cheese/pickled products ≤1.0 g/kg; candied fruit/jelly ≤0.5 g/kg. Note: because potassium sorbate is dosed by molecular weight (1 g potassium sorbate ≈ 0.746 g sorbic acid), multiply the "as-sorbic-acid" limit by approximately 1.34 to obtain the equivalent potassium sorbate addition.

Packaging

• Powder: 25 kg plastic-woven bag with food-grade PE inner liner; trial sizes 1 kg / 5 kg

• Granular: 25 kg plastic-woven bag or 25 kg carton with food-grade PE inner liner; trial sizes available

• Custom packaging and labeling on request

Storage Conditions

• Store sealed in a clean, cool, dry place; protect from direct sunlight and high temperature

• Keep containers sealed to prevent moisture absorption and caking (use promptly after opening)

• Keep away from strong oxidizing and reducing agents

Shelf Life

24 months from date of production under recommended storage conditions.