YenzoWhat is E283 (potassium propionate)?
It is potassium propionate, the potassium salt of propionic acid (E280). Circular 24/2019/TT-BYT lists E283 as a preservative.
E283Potassium propionate
E283 is potassium propionate, the potassium salt of propionic acid. In food it is a preservative that holds back moulds, mainly in bread and baked goods.
Did you know? According to EFSA, propionates are naturally occurring substances in the normal diet.
- Code
- E283 · INS 283
- Group
- Preservative
In Vietnam✓ PermittedOn the list of permitted additives — Circular 24/2019, Appendix 1
Risk level on the Yenzo Scalelow?Based on the Open Food Facts additives taxonomy
How E283 appears on labels
IngredientsIllustrative example
Wheat flour, vegetable oil, salt, sugar, preservative (283), dried onion and garlic, pepper, natural colour (160a).
preservative (283)preservative 283E283INS 283On Vietnamese labels: Kali propionat
Potassium propionate in food
Milk, cheese, creamConfectioneryNoodles, pasta, cerealsBaked goodsProcessed meatFish and seafood, canned
Eggs and egg products
Seasonings, soup cubes, saucesSavoury ready-to-eat foodsQuestions about potassium propionate
Is potassium propionate harmful?
In 2014 EFSA re-evaluated propionic acid and its sodium, calcium and potassium salts (E280–E283) and concluded that the present database did not allow an ADI to be allocated. EFSA estimated exposure from food additive use at 0.7–21.1 mg/kg body weight a day at the mean and 3.6–40.8 mg/kg at the 95th percentile. EFSA concluded that for food as consumed there would not be a safety concern from the maximum concentrations of propionic acid and its salts at their currently authorised uses and use levels.
Is INS 283 permitted in Vietnam?
Yes. Potassium propionate (INS 283) is listed in Appendix 1 of Circular 24/2019/TT-BYT, the list of additives permitted in food, with the function preservative.
Other preservatives
E280Propionic acidlowE281Sodium propionatelowE282Calcium propionatelowE284Boric acidhighE285Sodium tetraborate (borax)highE290Carbon dioxidevery low
See all preservatives →Updated 21 October 2026
Sources (3)
- Open Food Facts additives taxonomy (Yenzo's table cites no EFSA opinion for this code). Open Food Facts additives taxonomy, https://github.com/openfoodfacts/openfoodfacts-server/blob/main/taxonomies/additives.txt (entry en:e283)
- Thông tư 24/2019/TT-BYT (văn bản hợp nhất 09/VBHN-BYT), Phụ lục 3 (phụ gia và nhóm thực phẩm dùng theo GMP)
- EFSA Journal (2014). Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of propionic acid (E 280), sodium propionate (E 281), calcium propionate (E 282) and potassium propionate (E 283) as food additives