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HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES Learn more About EWG VERIFIED®

Data: Limited

Potassium Sorbate

IMAGE SOURCE: PubChem

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Other Concerns

SYNONYMS

● D02411
● J-524028
● 9207-EP2316834A1
● 2,4-HEXADIENOIC ACID, POTASSIUM SALT, (E,E)- (9CI)
● 9207-EP2314589A1
● Q410744
● 9207-EP2316835A1
● 9207-EP2316829A1
● J-015607
● A817411

Restricted

Restricted: EWG VERIFIED products cannot contain this ingredient without adequate substantiation

Potassium sorbate is a potassium salt of sorbic acid, a naturally occuringantimicrobial compound; used as a preservative

Common concerns

See how this product scores for common concerns.

  • LOW
    Cancer
  • MODERATE
    Allergies & Immunotoxicity
  • LOW
    Developmental and Reproductive Toxicity
  • LOW
    Use Restrictions

Ingredient concerns

  • CONCERNS
  • DATA SOURCES

Products with this Ingredient

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mouthwash89 products
body wash/cleanser705 products
moisturizer867 products
facial moisturizer/treatment921 products
toners/astringents252 products
shampoo1179 products
around-eye cream326 products
concealer720 products
facial cleanser567 products
conditioner1089 products
hair treatment/serum504 products
sunless tanning118 products
baby wipes86 products
hand cream181 products
styling gel/lotion178 products
Hair Styling Gel14 products
exfoliant/scrub273 products
bronzer/highlighter235 products
eye shadow385 products
after shave37 products
tanning oil9 products
hair styling aid372 products
mascara437 products
foundation2122 products
eye liner201 products
lipstick139 products
hair color and bleaching139 products
skin fading/lightener11 products
serums & essences568 products
mask546 products
hair spray83 products
body spray69 products
antiperspirant/deodorant72 products
liquid hand soap415 products
muscle/joint soreness9 products
oil controller11 products
anti-aging103 products
after sun product37 products
hair-loss treatment14 products
body firming lotion152 products
makeup primer158 products
detangler66 products
hair relaxer4 products
styling mousse/foam65 products
baby shampoo98 products
baby soap91 products
baby lotion50 products
bubble bath73 products
toothpaste111 products
baby toothpaste30 products
blush195 products
cuticle treatment2 products
makeup remover122 products
setting powder/spray171 products
shaving cream72 products
facial powder111 products
Under Eye Concealers5 products
body oil15 products
bar soap26 products
antiperspirant/deodorant (men's)7 products
hand sanitizer50 products
shaving cream (men's)19 products
eye makeup remover13 products
foot moisturizer27 products
Bath and Body Wipes23 products
beard cleanser12 products
brow liner171 products
Face Wipes7 products
fragrance for women8 products
lip balm32 products
tooth whitening6 products
daily use with SPF360 products
damaged skin treatment4 products
baby bubble bath28 products
bath oil/salts/soak40 products
recreational sunscreen45 products
baby oil4 products
baby sunscreen6 products
beard care31 products
Beard Conditioners5 products
nail polish28 products
lip liner4 products
other eye makeup22 products
Oils & Serums22 products
BB cream57 products
nail treatment8 products
diaper cream4 products
body art3 products
glitter31 products
polish remover5 products
foot odor control3 products
lip gloss62 products
eyelash glue5 products
fragrance for men6 products
depilatory7 products
Exfoliants6 products
Facial Sun Care3 products
Eye Shadow Primers3 products
CC cream48 products
foot cleansing4 products
Beard Soaps1 products
pore strips4 products
Preshave Preparations4 products
Wipes9 products
lip balm with SPF3 products
Dry Shampoo and Hair Powders8 products
acne treatment3 products
Facial Cleansing Water5 products
lubricant4 products
personal cleansing2 products
cradle cap treatment1 products
Other Hair Care Preparations5 products
scar treatment1 products
lip plumper4 products
other men's products2 products
body powder4 products
baby powder1 products
Putties, Puddings & Clays1 products
Lip Stain1 products

Multiple, additive exposure sources

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in foodUS. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Data gaps

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Risk assessment method deficiencies and data gaps - Maximum reported 'as used' concentration is basis of safety assessment by industry safety panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review, CIR) - implicit safe concentration limit in productCosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)

Allergies/immunotoxicity

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Human skin toxicant or allergen - strong evidenceCosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)

Informational

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Industry or government recommendations for safe use: restrictions on concentration, impurities, product types, or manufacturing methods - anyCosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)

Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Classified as not expected to be potentially toxic or harmfulEnvironment Canada

Persistence and bioaccumulation

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Not suspected to be persistentEnvironment Canada
Not suspected to be bioaccumulativeEnvironment Canada

Ecotoxicology

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Not suspected to be an environmental toxinEnvironment Canada
  • US. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
  • Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)
  • Environment Canada

Understanding scores

Cosmetics and personal care products are not required to be tested for safety before being allowed on the market. The Skin Deep® scoring system was designed to help the public understand whether a product is safe to use or whether it contains ingredients of concern.

Every product and ingredient in Skin Deep gets a two-part score – one for hazard and one for data availability. The safest products score well by both measures, with a low hazard rating and a fair or better data availability rating.


HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES

Hazard score

The Skin Deep ingredient hazard score, from 1 to 10, reflects known and suspected hazards linked to the ingredients. The EWG Verified® mark means a product meets EWG’s strictest criteria for transparency and health.

Score legend
WEIGHT-OF-EVIDENCE APPROACH

A product’s hazard score is not an average of the ingredients’ hazard scores. It is calculated using a weight-of-evidence approach that factors in all of the hazards or health impacts associated with the ingredients.

Data availability

The Skin Deep data availability rating reflects the number of scientific studies about the product or ingredient in the published scientific literature.

NONE LIMITED FAIR GOOD ROBUST
Low Availability
Moderate Availability
High Availability
NONE

Ingredients have not been assessed.

LIMITED-FAIR

There is only a modest volume of research.

GOOD-ROBUST

Ingredients have been studied extensively.

Can’t find your product?

Enter the ingredients in EWG’s Build Your Own Report tool to get an approximate score for that product.

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