What is E282?
Calcium propionate — a common bread mould inhibitor with a genuine, if limited, body of research linking it to behavioural changes in a subgroup of sensitive children.
E282 (calcium propionate) is a preservative that stops mould growing in bread and baked goods. An Australian double-blind crossover study found worsened sleep, concentration and behaviour in a subgroup of sensitive children exposed to it, and a separate adult study found measurable hormonal changes after a single dose. It doesn't currently have a modern numerical Acceptable Daily Intake set by major regulators. Goodnessly rates it Avoid.
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Read the FAQ →
What is calcium propionate?
Calcium propionate is made by combining calcium with propionic acid, a naturally occurring short-chain fatty acid that's also produced by bacteria in the human gut during digestion of dietary fibre. As a food additive, it's valued for inhibiting mould growth without affecting yeast activity, which makes it especially useful in yeast-leavened baked goods where other mould inhibitors might interfere with rising. It's reportedly very widespread in commercially packaged bread, cakes and biscuits.
What's it used for?
- Preventing mould growth in bread and baked goods
- Used in some cheese products
- Occasionally used in processed meats
Where you'll find 282 on the shelf
Extremely common in commercially baked bread and yeast-leavened products.
Is calcium propionate safe? What the research says
Calcium propionate's regulatory history includes a real ban-and-reinstatement, and the human research behind it is more specific than for many additives, though still limited in scale.
| Region | Status | What this means |
|---|---|---|
| AU/NZ Australia & New Zealand (FSANZ) | Permitted | Permitted as a preservative, must be declared by name or number on the ingredient list. |
| EU European Union (EFSA) | Permitted | Listed as E282. Germany banned propionic acid and its salts in 1988, then re-approved it in 1998 as part of EU-wide harmonisation of food additive law. No modern numerical Acceptable Daily Intake has been established. |
| US United States (FDA) | GRAS | Holds Generally Recognized As Safe status for use as a preservative. |
The toxicological basis regulators originally relied on wasn't a strong calcium-propionate-specific alarm signal: a 90-day dog study found reversible oesophageal changes at high doses, interpreted mainly as local contact irritation rather than systemic toxicity, and EFSA has treated similar rodent forestomach findings as a poor indicator for human risk given humans lack that organ.
- Dengate & Ruben (2002) crossover study: Australian researchers ran a double-blind crossover challenge in 27 selected children and found worsened sleep, concentration and behaviour in a notable subgroup during calcium propionate exposure. This was a small, targeted study in children already suspected of sensitivity, not a general population trial.
- Adult hormonal-response study: a randomised, placebo-controlled crossover study gave 28 healthy adults 1,500mg of calcium propionate and found measurable increases in glucagon, norepinephrine and epinephrine afterward, indicating the additive can trigger real physiological responses at that dose.
- Laboratory signals, not proof of harm: cell-based laboratory studies have found oxidative stress and DNA-damage markers at high concentrations. These are considered warning signals worth further study rather than established evidence of everyday dietary harm.
This section is checked periodically rather than continuously — if you're reading this well after the date above, it's worth confirming nothing has changed before citing it.
Who might want to limit or avoid it
- Parents of children who show signs of irritability, restlessness or sleep disturbance that seem to track with diet, given the specific findings of the Dengate & Ruben study
- Anyone who has noticed digestive discomfort after eating a lot of packaged bread, given propionates are weak organic acids that may irritate the mouth or throat at higher intake
- Anyone who prefers to minimise total additive exposure given the lack of a modern numerical daily intake limit for this specific compound
Goodnessly rates E282 Avoid. It remains legally approved, but the combination of a real (if small) behavioural study in children, a demonstrated hormonal response in adults, and the absence of a modern ADI places it in our highest-caution category.
How to spot it on a label
E282 must be declared clearly. Look out for:
- Calcium propionate
- 282 or E282
- "Preservative (282)" in the ingredients list
Commercially packaged bread is the single most common place to find it.
Related additives
Frequently asked questions
Does calcium propionate cause hyperactivity?
A small Australian double-blind crossover study (Dengate & Ruben, 2002) found worsened sleep, concentration and behaviour in a subgroup of 27 selected children exposed to it. This wasn't a large general-population trial, but it's one of the more specific pieces of human research behind any additive covered in this directory.
Why don't regulators have a modern intake limit for E282?
Unlike many additives, calcium propionate doesn't currently carry a modern numerical Acceptable Daily Intake from major regulators. The original approval relied on older toxicology, including a 90-day dog study, rather than a fresh comprehensive re-evaluation.
Was calcium propionate ever banned?
Germany banned propionic acid and its salts, including calcium propionate, in 1988. It was re-approved in 1998 as part of EU-wide harmonisation of food additive regulations.
Does Goodnessly rate E282 as safe, caution, or avoid?
Goodnessly rates E282 (Calcium Propionate) as Avoid. It remains legally approved, but the combination of a real behavioural study in children, a demonstrated hormonal response in adults, and the absence of a modern ADI places it in our highest-caution category.
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