Propionic acid (E280)
Updated October 2, 2026
Propionic acid (E280) is a food additive in the “preservatives” group. It appears in 471 products in our database, 443 of them sold in the US.
Quick facts
- Also known as
- E280
- E-number
- E280
- Function
- Preservatives
- Found in
- 471 products (443 sold in the US)
Foods that commonly contain Propionic acid
Share of published products in each category whose ingredient list includes Propionic acid.
Popular products with Propionic acid
a NOVA 4 
a NOVA 4 
NOVA 4 
a NOVA 4 
a NOVA 4 
a NOVA 1 
a NOVA 4 
NOVA 4 
NOVA 4 
b NOVA 4 Propionic acid-free alternatives
Popular products from the same categories that don't list Propionic acid and score Nutri-Score A–C.
a NOVA 4 
c NOVA 4 
a NOVA 3 
c NOVA 4 
c NOVA 3 How to spot Propionic acid on a label
Look for any of these names in the ingredient list:
Related additives
Frequently asked questions
What foods contain Propionic acid?
In our database, Propionic acid most often appears in breads, mexican dinner mixes, frozen foods and sandwiches.
How many products contain Propionic acid?
471 published products on Foodmetria list Propionic acid, including 443 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.