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Formic Acid

Also known as: E236, methanoic acid

Moderate concern

EFSA reviewed in 2014; no longer authorized as a food preservative in EU food (only feed). Not approved as food additive in US.

Found in

13 products

E-number

E236

What it is

Formic acid (methanoic acid); simplest carboxylic acid, naturally found in ant venom and bee stings.

Preservative and acidulant; rarely used in food in EU/US.

Why it's flagged

Not authorized for food use in EU/US
corrosive in concentrated form

What regulators actually say

"Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 establishes the Union list of food additives; formic acid (E236) is not included in the current Union list of authorised food additives."

Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 on food additives — eur-lex.europa.eu

Regulatory status

United States — FDA

Not approved as direct food additive; permitted as indirect additive in some applications.

European Union — EFSA

Not authorized as food additive in EU (E236 removed); authorized for animal feed only.

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