E232 is sodium ortho-phenylphenol, the sodium salt of ortho-phenylphenol (E231), a preservative. In 2003 the EU moved E230, E231 and E232 out of the food additives directive because they fall under the legal definition of plant protection products.
Did you know? The JECFA record states that JMPR did not establish a separate ADI for the sodium salt of 2-phenylphenol because it "rapidly dissociates to 2-phenylphenol".
The evaluators disagree. EU (2003) withdrew it from the list of substances permitted in food, while JECFA (1964) keeps an ADI for it.
Wheat flour, vegetable oil, salt, sugar, preservative (232), dried onion and garlic, pepper, natural colour (160a).
It is sodium ortho-phenylphenol, the sodium salt of ortho-phenylphenol (E231). The JECFA record lists it as a preservative for post-harvest treatment of fruits and vegetables to protect against microbial damage.
The JECFA record for E232 gives its latest evaluation as 1964, with an ADI of 0–0.2 mg/kg body weight and the note "Conditional, 0.2-1.0 mg/kg bw". It also states that JMPR 1999 allocated an ADI of 0–0.4 mg/kg for 2-phenylphenol and did not establish one for the sodium salt because it rapidly dissociates to 2-phenylphenol.
“However, they fall under the definition of "plant protection products" in Council Directive 91/414/EEC of 15 July 1991 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market [...] Therefore, they should no longer come within the scope of Directive 95/2/EC.”
Directive 2003/114/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 December 2003 amending Directive 95/2/EC on food additives other than colours and sweeteners
Yes. Sodium ortho-phenylphenol (INS 232) is listed in Appendix 1 of Circular 24/2019/TT-BYT, the list of additives permitted in food, as a preservative.
Updated 21 October 2026
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