E234 / Preservatives
Nisin
Safety in brief
Safe
Recorded EatMatrix rating, not a new clinical review. The amount, your sensitivities and country rules still matter.
- Watch for
- No allergen or sensitivity is recorded for this ingredient here. Check the whole product label; this is not an allergen-free guarantee.
- 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
Nisin is a natural antimicrobial peptide produced by fermenting the bacterium Lactococcus lactis, used to inhibit the growth of certain bacteria, including Listeria, in dairy products, processed meats, and canned foods. It's heat-stable and effective at very low concentrations, so it's often used in pasteurized or heat-processed foods to extend shelf life without changing taste or texture. It's approved as safe by the FDA and EFSA. Since it's a protein-based peptide, it is generally broken down by digestion like other dietary proteins.
Also appears on labels as: Nisin, E234, E 234, E-234, INS 234, Nisin A, Nisin Z, Food Preservative (Nisin), Natural Preservative Nisin, Antimicrobial Peptide Nisin, Bacteriocin Nisin, Nisin Concentrate.
Dietary information
- Vegan
- Yes
- Halal
- Yes
- Gluten-free
- Yes
- Allergens
- None recorded
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
- Rare reports of allergic-type sensitivity, since nisin is a peptide derived from bacterial fermentation.
- Generally recognized as safe at typical food-use levels; long-term high-dose human data is more limited than for older, more established preservatives.
Other references from our ingredient record
These links come from the original ingredient record. They are separate from the source reviews above and have not all been checked for the exact ingredient, amount consumed or claim. Dates are shown newest first.
- Nisin (E234) – Natural Antimicrobial Peptide — EFSA Panel on Food Additives, EFSA Journal (2017). Generally recognized as safe; no ADI specified; effective against Gram-positive bacteria; widely used in dairy and canned foods.[safe]
Country rules
Country checks for E234
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 | Regulation (EC) 1333/2008, Annex II Part B, version , contains the exact code E234: Nisin. Listing alone does not allow every food use. Part E food categories, limits, specifications and applicable later acts still need a product-specific check. Source read: . |
| Great Britain | The FSA register record for E234 (Nisin) lists “Authorised” in England, Scotland and Wales. Register updated: 01 April 2025; record checked: . Food-specific conditions and specifications still need a separate legal check. |
| United States | Selected US conditions for Nisin preparation Official federal text current through ; read . Food uses, limits and exceptionsA defined preparation and cheese-spread use The section describes a fermentation-derived nisin preparation, with potency and purity requirements, for inhibiting Clostridium botulinum spore outgrowth and toxin formation in the listed pasteurised cheese spreads and processed cheese spreads. Current good manufacturing practice delivers at most 250 ppm of nisin in the finished product. This is the amount of active nisin, not necessarily the weight of the commercial preparation. 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 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 8 listed food-use conditionsNisinHealth Canada: List of Permitted Preservatives. List published ; item N.2.
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
- 1 research link; newest recorded date: . 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 | Safe |
| WHO | Safe |
| EFSA | Safe |
| FSANZ | Safe |
| Japan | Safe |
| UK FSA | Safe |
| Health Canada | Safe |
Database updated: . What does an E number mean on a food label?
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
What is EatMatrix's recorded rating for E234?
The recorded EatMatrix rating for E234 (Nisin) is “Safe”. 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 E234 vegan, halal or gluten-free?
According to our ingredient data for Nisin — 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 E234 and why is it used?
Nisin is a natural antimicrobial peptide produced by fermenting the bacterium Lactococcus lactis, used to inhibit the growth of certain bacteria, including Listeria, in dairy products, processed meats, and canned foods. It's heat-stable and effective at very low concentrations, so it's often used in pasteurized or heat-processed foods to extend shelf life without changing taste or texture. It's approved as safe by the FDA and EFSA. Since it's a protein-based peptide, it is generally broken down by digestion like other dietary proteins.
Does E234 contain allergens?
No known allergens are recorded for Nisin.
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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.