Calcium propionate
This page explains what Calcium propionate is, where it shows up in restaurant food, and which ingredient reports connect to it.
- Concern
- Low / Limited Concern
- Function
- Preservative
- Updated
- 2026-03-18
What this is
Calcium propionate is a food additive used as a preservative to prevent mold in baked goods like breads, rolls, and fast-food burger buns. It is the calcium salt of propionic acid, a naturally occurring short-chain fatty acid. Calcium propionate is widely regarded as safe by food safety authorities and is allowed in the U.S. and internationally. However, a few studies have raised concerns about possible side effects. For example, some research linked this preservative to hyperactivity or other behavior changes in children, and to disruptions in blood sugar regulation, though overall evidence in humans remains limited and inconclusive.
Critical Endpoints
The key endpoints experts review in safety assessments (critical endpoints). This is not a prediction of harm.
Restaurant Usage
8 linked ingredient reports
State Actions
0 current actions
No current state action is listed for this ingredient in the policy tracker.