E282 — Calcium propionate
E282 (Calcium propionate), a preservative, is rated "watch": fine in moderation. The calcium salt of propionic acid. Standard mould preventer in supermarket bread. A small 2002 trial linked it to behavior changes in some sensitive children.
What is Calcium propionate?
The calcium salt of propionic acid. The standard mould inhibitor in commercial sandwich bread, buns, tortillas, and processed cheese.
What does it do to the body?
Most people show no reaction. A small 2002 double-blind trial in Australia reported irritability, restlessness, and sleep disturbance in some children who reacted to it; the evidence is limited but real for sensitive kids. Easy to spot if you suspect a reaction by switching to fresh, additive-free bread for a few days.
What regulators say
EFSA confirmed safety in 2014 with no numerical acceptable daily intake. The FDA approves it as GRAS.
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 propionic acid and propionates (2014) ↗