Methyl p-hydroxybenzoate (E218)
Updated October 2, 2026
Methyl p-hydroxybenzoate (E218) is a food additive in the “preservatives” group. It appears in 53 products in our database, 26 of them sold in the US.
Quick facts
- Also known as
- E218
- E-number
- E218
- Function
- Preservatives
- Found in
- 53 products (26 sold in the US)
Foods that commonly contain Methyl p-hydroxybenzoate
Share of published products in each category whose ingredient list includes Methyl p-hydroxybenzoate.
Popular products with Methyl p-hydroxybenzoate
a NOVA 4 
a NOVA 4 
NOVA 4 
NOVA 4 
NOVA 4 
NOVA 4 
b NOVA 4 
a NOVA 4 
NOVA 4 
NOVA 4 Methyl p-hydroxybenzoate-free alternatives
Popular products from the same categories that don't list Methyl p-hydroxybenzoate and score Nutri-Score A–C.
c NOVA 4 
a NOVA 4 
a NOVA 4 
a NOVA 4 
c NOVA 4 How to spot Methyl p-hydroxybenzoate on a label
Look for any of these names in the ingredient list:
Related additives
Frequently asked questions
What foods contain Methyl p-hydroxybenzoate?
In our database, Methyl p-hydroxybenzoate most often appears in cakes, pastries, breads and flatbreads.
How many products contain Methyl p-hydroxybenzoate?
53 published products on Foodmetria list Methyl p-hydroxybenzoate, including 26 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.