E240 / Preservatives
Formaldehyde
Safety in brief
Better avoided
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
Formaldehyde is a naturally occurring and industrially produced chemical, historically used as a preservative and disinfectant. It is no longer authorized as a direct food additive in the EU, US, or most other jurisdictions -- its E240 designation is obsolete and banned for food use. It still occurs naturally in trace amounts in some foods (like fruits and smoked products) and in the human body as a metabolic byproduct, but it is not intentionally added to food today. Outside food, it remains widely used in building materials, resins, and as a laboratory tissue preservative. It is classified as a known human carcinogen at higher, occupational-type exposure levels.
Also appears on labels as: Formaldehyde, Methanal, Formalin, Methyl aldehyde, Methylene oxide, Oxymethylene, Oxomethane, CH2O, HCHO, Formaldehyde solution, Formaldehyde (aqueous), Paraformaldehyde (polymeric form).
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
- Not authorized for direct addition to food in the EU, US, or most other markets; any presence in food is from natural trace occurrence, not intentional use.
- Classified by IARC as a known human carcinogen (Group 1); this pertains to occupational/inhalation exposure levels, far above trace dietary levels.
- Can cause eye, skin, and respiratory irritation at higher exposure (relevant mainly to industrial or off-gassing exposure, not food).
Country rules
Country checks for E240
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 Formaldehyde. A processing or environmental occurrence is not a direct preservative-use authorization. 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: Formaldehyde. 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 | 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 E240?
The recorded EatMatrix rating for E240 (Formaldehyde) 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 E240 vegan, halal or gluten-free?
According to our ingredient data for Formaldehyde — 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 E240 and why is it used?
Formaldehyde is a naturally occurring and industrially produced chemical, historically used as a preservative and disinfectant. It is no longer authorized as a direct food additive in the EU, US, or most other jurisdictions -- its E240 designation is obsolete and banned for food use. It still occurs naturally in trace amounts in some foods (like fruits and smoked products) and in the human body as a metabolic byproduct, but it is not intentionally added to food today. Outside food, it remains widely used in building materials, resins, and as a laboratory tissue preservative. It is classified as a known human carcinogen at higher, occupational-type exposure levels.
Does E240 contain allergens?
No known allergens are recorded for Formaldehyde.
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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.