Is Potassium Sorbate safe in cosmetics?
Potassium Sorbate has a safety rating of "EXCELLENT" in our database. EU status: restricted. US status: permitted.
Potassium Sorbate
Also known as: 2,4-Hexadienoic acid, potassium salt (1:1), Potassium hexa-2,4-dienoate, 2,4-2,4-HEXADIENOIC ACID POTASSIUM SALT, SORBATE, POTASSIUM, BB Powder (+6 more)
INCI: POTASSIUM SORBATE
Potassium Sorbate (CAS 590-00-1) is a cosmetic preservative functioning as preservative. NOAEL 1400 mg/kg bw/day (cross-referenced against ToxValDB ECHA IUCLID); EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: restricted, max 0.6% as sorbic acid equivalent. Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database.
Function
preservative
Editorial assessment
EXCELLENT
Preliminary editorial note — not a computed safety verdict.
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
restricted
EU Max Conc.
0.6% as sorbic acid equivalent
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
Permitted; GRAS for food use (21 CFR 182.3640). No US-specific cosmetic concentration cap. Very low sensitization rate — preferred preservative for sensitive-skin and baby formulations. pH-dependent efficacy: most active below pH 5.5 as undissociated sorbic acid.
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Potassium Sorbate.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Pre-Calculated Safety Assessment
Pre-calculated NOAEL → SED → MoS audit trail for Potassium Sorbate across SCCS product categories, with measured dermal absorption where available.
Sensitization Profile
Contact sensitization data for Potassium Sorbate based on clinical patch test studies and IFRA standards.
Sensitization Rate
low
Allergen Class
preservative
EU Allergen Listed
no
Patch Test Positive Rate
0.2%
Cross-reactivity Group
none
Reaction Type
contact-dermatitis
Source: ESSCA; IVDK; NACDG
Dermal Penetration Profile
Skin absorption and penetration characteristics of Potassium Sorbate, relevant to systemic exposure and MoS calculations.
Absorption %
1-4%
Penetration Level
surface
Penetration Depth
stratum corneum
Molecular Weight
150.2 Da
Log P
-1.6
Systemic Absorption
minimal
Topical Bioavailability
0.5-2%
Safety Margin Factor
low
Vehicle Dependent
Yes — absorption varies by formulation
Source: CIR Expert Panel
Endocrine Disruptor Evidence (Expanded)
Cross-referenced EDC classifications, mechanism data, and dose-response evidence from EDLists, SIN List, and cosmetic-specific detail sources.
Cosmetic-Specific Mechanism
Category: preservative
Receptor targets: ERα (very weak, limited)
LOEC: N/A
EU status: allowed (max 0.6%)
very weak modulator
Typical Use Concentrations
Reported concentration ranges per product category from SCCS/CIR/industry sources.
| Product Category | Typical Range | Max Reported | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | 0.1–0.5 | 0.6 | CIR Safety Assessment |
| Body Lotion | 0.1–0.5 | 0.6 | CIR Safety Assessment |
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Biocide
Flavouring and nutrient
Fragrance
Other
Preservative
Processing aids not otherwise specified
Regulatory List Membership (2)
EU Restricted for Children (Cosmetics)
EPA Safer Chemical Ingredients List (SCIL)
Editorial summary
Preliminary editorial summary for Potassium Sorbate — not a computed safety verdict. See the sourced toxicological data above.
Regulatory Flags
preservative
eu-annex-v
organic-acid
very-low-sensitization
ph-dependent
sensitive-skin-suitable
baby-safe
clean-label
gras
synergistic-with-sodium-benzoate
ph-5.5-optimal
eu_children_restricted
epa_safer_alternative
Known Synonyms
2,4-Hexadienoic acid, potassium salt (1:1)
Potassium hexa-2,4-dienoate
2,4-2,4-HEXADIENOIC ACID POTASSIUM SALT
SORBATE, POTASSIUM
BB Powder
Caswell No. 701C
EPA Pesticide Chemical Code 075902
FEMA No. 2921
Potassium 2,4-hexadienoate
Sorbistat-K
Sorbistat-potassium
Chemical Function
Biocide
Preservative
Regulatory Lists
inert_ingredient; non_food_use; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Australia
children; Europe; Personal care
animal_products
Australia; Food and drug - smoking-related products
SCIL (9/2019)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Potassium Sorbate allowed in the EU?
Potassium Sorbate EU regulatory status: restricted. Maximum allowed concentration: 0.6% as sorbic acid equivalent. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Potassium Sorbate do in cosmetics?
Potassium Sorbate functions as: preservative. It is classified as a Preservative in our database. CAS number: 590-00-1.
Compliance Tools
Check Potassium Sorbate compliance across multiple jurisdictions:
Ingredient Decoder
Paste a full ingredient list for instant analysis
82 Allergen Checker
Check for EU declarable fragrance allergens
Substance Compliance
Check compliance across multiple jurisdictions
MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
Heavy Metal Limits
Compare limits across jurisdictions
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