E240 – Formaldehyde

Description

Colourless gas with a pungent, suffocating odour; readily polymerizes

Risks

Notes

Formaldehyde is a simple chemical compound that exists naturally as a colourless gas with a sharp, pungent smell that most people find quite unpleasant. While it occurs naturally in small amounts in many foods (like fruits and vegetables) and is even produced by our own bodies, the formaldehyde used as a food additive is typically produced industrially by combining methanol (wood alcohol) with oxygen at high temperatures. When used in food, formaldehyde acts as a powerful preservative by killing bacteria, yeasts, and moulds that cause spoilage. Historically, it was used in some dairy products and certain preserved foods, but its use has become extremely limited due to health concerns. This synthetic preservative is technically suitable for vegetarian and vegan diets as it contains no animal products. However, formaldehyde is banned as a direct food additive in most developed countries, including the United States, Canada, and the European Union, due to serious health concerns including its classification as a carcinogen. Any formaldehyde present in foods today typically comes from natural sources or as a byproduct of other permitted additives.