Home › Hexamethylene Tetramine

Hexamethylene Tetramine

Also known as: E239, Hexamine, hexamethylenetetramine

High concern

E239 releases formaldehyde, a known carcinogen (IARC Group 1). Its use as a food preservative is highly restricted; in the EU it is permitted only in Provolone cheese under specific limits, and it is not approved for food use in the United States.

Found in

1 products

E-number

E239

Type

preservative

What it is

Hexamethylenetetramine (E239), a heterocyclic compound that releases formaldehyde.

Preservative historically used in certain cheeses (notably Provolone) and fish products.

Why it's flagged

formaldehyde release
carcinogenicity (formaldehyde, IARC Group 1)

What regulators actually say

""

Regulatory status

United States — FDA

not approved for food use in the U.S.

European Union — EFSA

permitted only in Provolone cheese under Regulation (EC) 1333/2008

Scan it before you buy it

Get Ube on iOS or Android — point at any barcode, see what's actually in there.

Get the app