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Additives

Calcium Formate (E238): What It Is and Is It Safe?

Limited risk Preservative / Acidity Regulator

Calcium salt of formic acid. Used as a preservative and acidity regulator in limited food applications. Provides a source of dietary calcium in addition to the formate ion. Same metabolic considerations as other formates (E236, E237) apply.

Category
Preservative / Acidity Regulator
Typically used in
Limited use in some preserved foods and bakery products (EU)
Regulatory status
Limited approval EU/UK.
Concerns flagged
Digestive upset

Scrannr flags Calcium Formate automatically when you scan a barcode.

Sources

Where this comes from

  1. EFSA (2014) — Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of formic acid -E 236-, sodium formate -E 237- and calcium formate -E 238- as food additives https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.2903/j.efsa.2014.3530
Products

Products containing Calcium Formate

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