Preservatives · Food additive

Dimethyl dicarbonate (E242)

Updated October 2, 2026

Dimethyl dicarbonate (E242) is a food additive in the “preservatives” group. It appears in 266 products in our database, 4 of them sold in the US.

Quick facts

Also known as
E242
E-number
E242
Function
Preservatives
Found in
266 products (4 sold in the US)

Foods that commonly contain Dimethyl dicarbonate

Sweetened beverages 1% · 66
Beverages 0% · 27
Non-alcoholic wines 20% · 19
Artificially sweetened beverages 1% · 11
Flavored waters 2% · 9
Iced teas 0% · 9
Non-alcoholic beverages 1% · 6
Unsweetened beverages 1% · 6

Share of published products in each category whose ingredient list includes Dimethyl dicarbonate.

Popular products with Dimethyl dicarbonate

Diet Pink Lemonade c NOVA 4
Diet Pink Lemonade
M&S · 500 ml
4 kcal
0.1 Fat g
0.2 Sugar g
0 Salt g
per 100 ml · 0.1 g protein
Palm oil freeVegan 2 allergens
Emerge Sport Mango & Passionfruit NOVA 4
Emerge Sport Mango & Passionfruit
emerge
18 kcal
0 Fat g
4 Sugar g
0.1 Salt g
per 100 g · 0 g protein
Palm oil free 1 allergen
Pineapple & Grapefruit Sparkling Drink NOVA 4
Pineapple & Grapefruit Sparkling Drink
Marks & Spencers
20 kcal
0.1 Fat g
2.5 Sugar g
0.3 Salt g
per 100 g · 0.1 g protein
Beef Bologna NOVA 4
Beef Bologna
Unknown brand · 12 oz
339 kcal
30.4 Fat g
1.8 Sugar g
3.6 Salt g
per 100 g · 10.7 g protein
1 allergen
Fruit shoot c NOVA 4
Fruit shoot
TeisseireFruit Shoot · 20 cl
22 kcal
0 Fat g
5.1 Sugar g
0 Salt g
per 100 ml · 0 g protein
Palm oil free 1 allergen
Milka Caramel NOVA 4
Milka Caramel
Milka · 95 g
544 kcal
33.2 Fat g
— Sugar
— Salt
per 100 g · 4.4 g protein
3 allergens
Vin rouge sans alcool NOVA 3
Vin rouge sans alcool
bonne nouvelle · 750 ml
21 kcal
0.6 Fat g
4.4 Sugar g
0 Salt g
per 100 ml · 0.5 g protein
Palm oil freeVegetarian 1 allergen
Luchon c NOVA 4
Luchon
Luchon · 1500 ml
14 kcal
0.3 Fat g
3.2 Sugar g
0 Salt g
per 100 ml · 0.3 g protein
Palm oil free
Fruit Shoot Fruits Rouges c NOVA 4
Fruit Shoot Fruits Rouges
Fruit Shoot · 20 cl
24 kcal
0 Fat g
5.7 Sugar g
0 Salt g
per 100 ml · 0 g protein
Palm oil free
Raspberry Flavour Isotonic Drink with Sugars and Sweeteners d NOVA 4
Raspberry Flavour Isotonic Drink with Sugars and Sweeteners
Lucozade Sport · 500 ml
27 kcal
0 Fat g
3.5 Sugar g
0.1 Salt g
per 100 g · 0 g protein
Palm oil freeVegan

How to spot Dimethyl dicarbonate on a label

Look for any of these names in the ingredient list:

Dimethyl dicarbonateE242

Related additives

Potassium sorbate · E202Sodium nitrite · E250Sodium benzoate · E211Sulfites · E220–E228Calcium propionate · E282Sorbic acid · E200 All preservatives

Frequently asked questions

What foods contain Dimethyl dicarbonate?

In our database, Dimethyl dicarbonate most often appears in sweetened beverages, beverages, non-alcoholic wines and artificially sweetened beverages.

How many products contain Dimethyl dicarbonate?

266 published products on Foodmetria list Dimethyl dicarbonate, including 4 sold in the United States. Counts come from ingredient lists in Open Food Facts and update daily.

Product data: Open Food Facts (ODbL), updated daily. Additive information is for general education and is not medical advice. Always check the package label. Our methodology.