E231; 2-Phenylphenol

(in 16 products)

1. Fungicide / Herbicide - Kills or inhibits unwanted vegetation

2. Preservative - Prevents and inhibits the growth of unwanted microorganisms which may be harmful

2-Phenylphenol is a white solid. It is a biocide used as a preservative with E number E231 but no longer a permitted food additive in the European Union. It is under the trade names Dowicide, Torsite, Fungal, Preventol, Nipacide and many others. [1]

The primary use of 2-phenylphenol is as an agricultural fungicide that is generally applied post-harvest. It is also commonly used for waxing citrus fruits. It is also used as a disinfectant, in households, hospitals, nursing homes, farms, laundries, barbershops, and food processing plants. It can also be used on fibers and other materials. It is also used in the manufacture of other fungicides, dyes, resins, and rubber chemicals. [1]

1. PubChem: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/7017

1. South Korea - Ministry of Food and Drug Safety - Prohibited/Restricted Chemicals

- Ref: 505

2. US California Proposition 65, Chemicals known to the State to Cause Cancer

- o-Phenylphenol

3. Japan - Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare - Restricted Ingredients

- o-Phenyl phenol, Sodium o-phenylphenate

4. E-numbers which are not found in EU FOOD

- E231

5. Japan’s List of Designated Food Additives under Article 10 of the Food Sanitation Act

- o-Phenylphenol and Sodium o-Phenylphenate

6. WHO International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) - Group 3 [2018]

- ortho-Phenylphenol

7. EU CosIng Annex V, PRESERVATIVES ALLOWED IN COSMETIC PRODUCTS [2017]

- Ref: V/7

8. Association of Southeast Asian Nations Annex VI, Allowed Preservatives

- Biphenyl-2-ol