E216 / Preservatives
Propyl p-hydroxybenzoate
Safety in brief
Better avoided
Recorded EatMatrix rating, not a new clinical review. The amount, your sensitivities and country rules still matter.
- Watch for
- Recorded sensitivities: paraben sensitivity.
- Our advice
- Read the whole food label and consider how often you eat the product. A name or E number does not tell you the amount, and an ingredient rating cannot assess the entire food.
What it is
Propyl p-hydroxybenzoate (propylparaben) is a paraben-class preservative used to inhibit bacteria, mould, and yeast, extending shelf life. It has been used in food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals, though its use in food is now restricted or not authorised in a number of jurisdictions, including the EU. Regulatory reviews excluded propylparaben from the general parabens group acceptable daily intake due to effects observed in animal studies, and it has raised more concern than methyl- or ethylparaben.
Also appears on labels as: Propyl p-hydroxybenzoate, Propylparaben, Propyl p-hydroxybenzoic acid ester, E216, E 216, E-216, Food preservative propyl p-hydroxybenzoate, Propyl para-hydroxybenzoate, p-Hydroxybenzoic acid propyl ester, Preservative E216, Propyl parabens, Propilparabenas.
Dietary information
- Vegan
- Yes
- Halal
- Yes
- Gluten-free
- Yes
- Allergens
- Caution
Recorded ingredient information. Check the product label or certification: sources, other ingredients and cross-contact can vary.
Research & body effects
Health notes from our ingredient record
- Excluded from the JECFA group ADI for parabens due to adverse reproductive effects observed in male rats; no acceptable daily intake has been established specifically for propylparaben.
- Potential weak endocrine (hormone-mimicking) activity reported in some laboratory studies; relevance to humans at food-use levels is uncertain.
- Not authorised as a food additive in the EU/UK.
- Rare hypersensitivity (e.g., contact dermatitis) reported, mainly from cosmetic exposure.
Country rules
Country checks for E216
Permission depends on the market, type of food, amount and conditions. A scientific opinion or an E-number alone does not establish a legal use. These checks are separate from the stored EatMatrix rating.
Compare all eight markets and their sources
| Market | What is checked |
|---|---|
| European Union | No exact code match in the Annex II Part B list (version 2026-08-18, read 2026-10-07). Identity, subform and legal-use review are pending. This does not establish a permission or a ban. |
| Great Britain | No verified exact register record in this review. Identity and current use rules need checking; missing a record does not establish a ban. |
| United States | Selected US conditions for Propylparaben Official federal text current through ; read . Food uses, limits and exceptionsFederal antimicrobial use Propylparaben has a named food-use provision: the specified preparation is used as an antimicrobial under good manufacturing practice, with current practice resulting in a maximum of 0.1% in food. This provision does not cover every other paraben or its sodium salt. A separate dry-sausage use USDA lists a 3.5% water solution of propylparaben for treating dry-sausage casings before or after stuffing. This is the treatment solution, not the concentration in the finished food. California: a future date, not a nationwide ban California’s 2023 AB 418 signing notice identifies propylparaben among four additives whose food-product prohibition starts in January 2027. That date is still in the future at this review. Federal provisions and state rules are different; the current consolidated state code and all state-specific exceptions have not been fully reviewed here. EatMatrix’s reading: a legal use condition answers where and how an ingredient may be used. It is not a test of your product, a personal safe intake or a claim that the ingredient benefits your body. Match the named substance, food and amount. Other federal provisions, food standards, state rules and later changes may also apply; this is a selected source review, not a complete product-compliance decision. |
| Northern Ireland | Review pending. Check the applicable EU rules and territory arrangements; the GB register alone does not establish this status. FSA guidance is a starting source, not a verified permission for this entry. |
| Canada | Named Canadian use conditions located The reviewed Canadian name is Propyl-ρ-Hydroxybenzoate. The corresponding food-use conditions are shown below. EatMatrix reading: Match the named preparation, specifications, food, purpose and every limit below before using these rows for a product decision. Name and category review: . This describes the legal source check, not a finding that the ingredient is safe, unsafe or untested. Sources and names checkedNames checked: Propyl p-hydroxybenzoate; Propyl-ρ-Hydroxybenzoate. All 15 Health Canada permitted-additive lists were checked by exact name, with the reviewed alternatives above. E-numbers alone are not Canadian ingredient names. The Justice Canada consolidation read was current to 21 September 2026. A complete product decision also requires its composition, specifications, intended food and use, quantities, applicable separate provisions and any later changes. Named food-use records located. Health Canada lists the preparations below for specified foods and purposes. This is conditional permission for those uses, not approval of every product or a personal safety verdict. Only the named records and conditions below were located. Exact composition and specifications still need matching. Source tables captured . List publication dates are shown separately. Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) is a condition of use, not an unlimited amount or a recommended intake. Food and Drug Regulations B.16.003 requires the listed source, purpose, amount and other conditions to match. The official consolidation read was current to 21 September 2026; product specifications and applicable later changes still need checking. Read 5 listed food-use conditionsPropyl-ρ-HydroxybenzoateHealth Canada: List of Permitted Preservatives. List published ; item P.12.
EatMatrix reading: match the exact preparation and food first. A manufacturing limit is not an acceptable daily intake (ADI). A label without the amount cannot establish exposure, and an unlisted name here does not establish a ban. |
| Australia | Review pending. Food Standards Code permissions and conditions need an additive-specific check. FSANZ food-additive rules is a starting source, not a verified permission for this entry. |
| New Zealand | Review pending. Food Standards Code permissions and conditions need an additive-specific check. FSANZ food-additive rules is a starting source, not a verified permission for this entry. |
| Japan | Review pending. The relevant list, identity and use standards need an additive-specific check. CAA food-additive lists is a starting source, not a verified permission for this entry. |
Sources & review status
Check what each source covers: an authority’s conclusion, a research finding and a country’s legal permission answer different questions.
What this guide covers
- Original ingredient record
- No research links in the original record. Sources added separately to this guide are not included in this count.
This guide brings together our ingredient record and the dated sources shown here. Missing information describes a gap in this guide; it does not mean an ingredient is untested, safe or harmful. This is not a complete review of every study, preparation or current country rule. The amount in a product and how it is used still matter.
How to read the ratings, research and country checksAgency labels recorded by EatMatrix
These are imported database classifications, not verified current statements from each authority. Use the dated official sources below for their actual scope and conclusions.
| Authority | Database label |
|---|---|
| FDA | Better avoided |
| WHO | Better avoided |
| EFSA | Better avoided |
| FSANZ | Better avoided |
| Japan | Better avoided |
| UK FSA | Better avoided |
| Health Canada | Better avoided |
Database updated: . What does an E number mean on a food label?
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
What is EatMatrix's recorded rating for E216?
The recorded EatMatrix rating for E216 (Propyl p-hydroxybenzoate) is “Better avoided”. It is calculated from labels stored in our ingredient database. These labels are not verified current regulator decisions or country permissions. A database update date is not a scientific review date.
Is E216 vegan, halal or gluten-free?
According to our ingredient data for Propyl p-hydroxybenzoate — vegan: yes, vegetarian: yes, halal: yes, kosher: yes, gluten-free: yes, dairy-free: yes. Manufacturing sources can vary between products; check the label if it matters to you.
What is E216 and why is it used?
Propyl p-hydroxybenzoate (propylparaben) is a paraben-class preservative used to inhibit bacteria, mould, and yeast, extending shelf life. It has been used in food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals, though its use in food is now restricted or not authorised in a number of jurisdictions, including the EU. Regulatory reviews excluded propylparaben from the general parabens group acceptable daily intake due to effects observed in animal studies, and it has raised more concern than methyl- or ethylparaben.
Does E216 contain allergens?
No known allergens are recorded for Propyl p-hydroxybenzoate, with a caution: paraben sensitivity.
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This page shows information and classifications recorded in our ingredient database. Current scientific and market-specific verification remains pending as described above. It is general information, not medical advice.