What Is Potassium Sorbate (E202)?

What is potassium sorbate?

Potassium sorbate (E202) is the potassium salt of sorbic acid and one of the most widely used preservatives in the food industry. It is a white to cream, tasteless and odourless product. While sorbic acid itself is poorly soluble in water, the potassium salt dissolves at about 58 g per 100 ml at 20 °C, which makes it easy to apply in aqueous systems. It suppresses yeast and mould growth and has limited effect on bacteria.

Why does pH matter so much?

Potassium sorbate acts by converting to sorbic acid in solution; the antimicrobial activity comes from the undissociated sorbic acid. The pKa of sorbic acid is 4.76, so the lower the pH, the higher the share of undissociated form and the greater the efficacy. Activity is high at pH 4, markedly lower at pH 6 and practically unusable above pH 6.5. Product pH is therefore the first figure to check when setting the preservative dose.

Applications and typical rates

Cheese surfaces and dairy, cakes, pastry and bakery, juices and syrups, sauces and dressings, pickles and brines, dried fruit, confectionery, wine and some beverages. Typical usage is 0.05–0.2% (500–2000 mg/kg); legal maximums differ by product category and must be checked against the Turkish Food Codex and target market regulations.

Granular or powder?

The granular form is dust-free, flows better and is less likely to block dosing systems; it is preferred in high-volume production. The powder dissolves faster and suits manual dosing in small batches. Purity and chemical properties are identical in both forms.

Technical properties and quality criteria

Check purity (≥ 99%, dry basis), moisture (≤ 1%), pH (1% solution: 7–10), heavy metals (lead, arsenic, mercury), alkalinity, solubility, particle size and food-grade conformity statement (FCC or European Pharmacopoeia). Residual solvents and microbiological values should also be reported.

Wholesale sourcing: price and minimum order

The wholesale price of potassium sorbate is set by the raw material (sorbic acid) market, purity grade, form (granular/powder), origin (China and the EU are common) and order quantity. The typical minimum order is 100–500 kg. PERDIST identifies the form suited to your application, compares sources and provides a written quotation with documents.

Frequently asked questions

Potassium sorbate or sodium benzoate?

Potassium sorbate is more effective against yeast and mould, sodium benzoate against bacteria and yeast; benzoate needs a lower pH (≤ 4.5). Many products use both synergistically.

My product is at pH 6, can I use it?

Efficacy drops markedly. Consider lowering the pH, reducing water activity or a different preservation system (e.g. nisin, culture-based protection).

How is it declared on the label?

As "preservative: potassium sorbate" or "preservative: E202", stated together with its function.

Specification summary

The values below come from the Potassium Sorbate page of the PERDIST catalogue and are confirmed per batch with the specification and certificate of analysis on every shipment.

Field	Value
Typical properties	Purity ≥ 99% (dry basis), moisture ≤ 1%, white-cream colour, water solubility about 58 g/100 ml (20 °C), pH (1% solution) 7–10, heavy metals ≤ 10 mg/kg. Values vary by supplier specification.
Applications	Cheese surfaces and dairy, cakes, pastry and bakery, juices and syrups, sauces and dressings, pickles and brines, dried fruit, confectionery and wine.
Formulation note	Effectiveness increases as pH falls (ideal pH ≤ 5.5); typical usage 0.05–0.2%, checked against the permitted maximum for the product category. Granular form is dust-free and easier to dose.
Shelf life and storage	Typically 24 months in unopened packaging; store dry, cool, sealed and away from light.
Packaging	Typically 25 kg kraft bags or cartons with PE inner liner; pallets of 500–1000 kg. 1–5 kg packs considered on request.
Minimum order	Usually 100–500 kg; smaller quantities are stated in the quotation depending on product and supplier.
Origin	Common origins: China, European Union. Documented per lot in the quotation.

Documents to request from the supplier

The permitted food category, the maximum level and the label wording.
Activity units or purity, and which carrier the preparation uses.
Batch certificate of analysis and origin document, showing the number of the batch shipped.

For supplier selection, auditing and the approved supplier list, see the supplier evaluation and approval guide.

Sample and approval steps

The steps from requesting a sample to the application trial and keeping a reference sample are set out in the ingredient sample evaluation and approval guide.

Regulatory and documentation context

Additives and processing aids follow the Turkish Food Codex regulation on food additives and, in the EU, Regulation 1333/2008 for permitted uses and maximum levels. Confirm the permitted food category and the label wording in writing before use.