E218 · Preservatives

Methylparaben

Moderate risk endocrinepreservative

Paraben preservative; endocrine debate.

Category: Preservatives
Acceptable daily intake: 10 mg/kg body weight/day (EFSA)
Vegan: Yes
Vegetarian: Yes

What it is

Methyl-p-hydroxybenzoate (E218) is a synthetic paraben. Parabens are famously used in cosmetics to stop mould, but are also used in specific foods.

How it is used in food

Occasionally used in confectionery glazes.

Commonly found in

Cosmetics and shampoos (highly common)
Pâté and gelatin-coated meats
Confectionery and liquid sweets

Health and safety

Endocrine scrutiny due to weak estrogen mimicry.

Parabens are highly controversial due to their ability to mimic estrogen in the human body. This has raised concerns about their potential to disrupt the endocrine system and affect reproductive health.

Suspected endocrine disruptor

general population · evidence: suspected

Parabens are known xenoestrogens that can mimic estrogen in the body, raising concerns about long-term hormonal disruption.

EFSA re-evaluation of parabens

Like all parabens, weak estrogen mimicry observed in lab studies.

Regulatory status

Region	Status	Notes
Australia & New Zealand FSANZ	Permitted	Permitted.
European Union EFSA / European Commission	Permitted	Authorised for food use under EU regulations (Annex II).
United States FDA (Food and Drug Administration)	Permitted	Affirmed GRAS as methylparaben (21 CFR 184.1490).

Identification on labels

E-number: E218

Alternatives to this additive

E202: Potassium sorbate — A non-paraben preservative that does not carry endocrine disruption concerns.

How it is made

Produced chemically by the esterification of p-hydroxybenzoic acid with the corresponding alcohol.

Esterification — p-Hydroxybenzoic acid is reacted with an alcohol in the presence of a catalyst.

Worth knowing

Much more familiar from cosmetics than food.

Conclusion

While EFSA permits E218 in food (concluding that its shorter ester chain is less potent hormonally than banned propyl-parabens), consumer backlash against parabens in cosmetics has spilled over into food. Most "clean label" brands refuse to use it under any circumstances.

References

EFSA re-evaluation of parabens — EFSA

Is it in what you are buying?

ScanWise reads the barcode and tells you which additives a product actually contains, and what they do to its score.

Open the app

Entry last reviewed 2026-07-28.

← All additives