E200 — Sorbic acid
E200 (Sorbic acid), a preservative, is rated "watch": fine in moderation. A widely used preservative that stops mould and yeast in cheese, bread, and dried fruit. Generally safe but can cause skin reactions in sensitive people.
What is Sorbic acid?
A mild organic acid, originally found in rowan berries, used to prevent mould and yeast growth. Common in cheese, bread, wine, dried fruit, and some baked goods.
What does it do to the body?
Your body breaks it down into the same fats it processes from any meal, so there is essentially no toxic accumulation. A small fraction of people get contact dermatitis or hives from it.
What regulators say
EFSA kept the acceptable daily intake at 3 mg per kg of body weight per day in 2015. The FDA approves it as GRAS (generally recognized as safe).
Risk rating: Watch
Mixed evidence or a specific concern (gut, allergy, or contested safety data). Not alarming, but worth keeping an eye on rather than eating without limit.
Source: EFSA — re-evaluation of sorbic acid and sorbates (2015) ↗