E236 / Preservatives
Formic acid
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
Formic acid is an organic acid that occurs naturally in ant venom, stinging nettles, and some fruits. In food, it's used in small amounts as a preservative and acidity regulator, mainly in some silage (animal feed) and a limited number of processed food applications, where it helps inhibit bacterial and mold growth. It's also produced industrially for use in leather tanning, textiles, and chemical manufacturing, which are unrelated to food. At the concentrations used in approved food applications it is considered safe by regulators, though the concentrated acid itself is corrosive and irritating if handled directly.
Also appears on labels as: Formic acid, E236, E 236, E-236, INS 236, Methanoic acid, Ameisensäure, Acidum formicum, Formylic acid, Hydrogen carboxylic acid, HCOOH, Preservative E236.
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
- Corrosive and irritating to skin, eyes, and airways in its concentrated industrial form; food-use concentrations are far more dilute and regulated.
- Not commonly used as a direct food additive in most retail products; more prevalent in feed and industrial applications.
Country rules
Country checks for E236
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 | Complete current-use review pending. Any scoped provision in the label guide above applies only to the stated use. FDA explains the applicable food-additive and GRAS framework. |
| 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 | No exact named entry located in the reviewed additive lists No exact named food-additive entry was located in the 15 current lists for Formic Acid. Acetic acid is a different acid. EatMatrix reading: Do not claim a permitted additive use from this review. Exact preparation, intended use and any applicable separate legal provision need confirmation; this table result is not a toxicology verdict or proof of a universal ban. 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: Formic acid; Formic Acid. 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. |
| 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 | 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 E236?
The recorded EatMatrix rating for E236 (Formic acid) 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 E236 vegan, halal or gluten-free?
According to our ingredient data for Formic acid — 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 E236 and why is it used?
Formic acid is an organic acid that occurs naturally in ant venom, stinging nettles, and some fruits. In food, it's used in small amounts as a preservative and acidity regulator, mainly in some silage (animal feed) and a limited number of processed food applications, where it helps inhibit bacterial and mold growth. It's also produced industrially for use in leather tanning, textiles, and chemical manufacturing, which are unrelated to food. At the concentrations used in approved food applications it is considered safe by regulators, though the concentrated acid itself is corrosive and irritating if handled directly.
Does E236 contain allergens?
No known allergens are recorded for Formic acid.
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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.